Great start for Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE captain Brendan Taylor marked his return to form in emphatic fashion with a solid century, a career third and his second against Bangladesh, on the opening day of the first of two cricket Tests at Harare Sports Club yesterday. Report by Daniel Nhakaniso Taylor led a fightback after the tourists had thrown a couple of blows with two early wickets. But the right-hander made good use of the gift of two lives having been dropped on 35 with Zimbabwe precariously positioned at 92-3. At stumps, Zimbabwe had resurrected their innings to 217-4 with Malcolm Waller’s wicket (55) the last to fall while Taylor and Elton Chigumbura were unbeaten on 105 and six respectively. Seam bowler Robiul Islam struck in the first session to remove both openers Vusi Sibanda for five and debutant Tymcem Maruma for 10 runs after the two had made a painfully slow start having been sent in to bat by Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim who won the toss. Yesterday’s ton was also Taylor’s second consecutive century against Bangladesh after his maiden Test century against the same team almost three years ago. Taylor formed Zimbabwe’s biggest partnership with Waller of 127 runs before the latter fell to Rubel Hossain, but Zimbabwe were in better health at that stage. The momentum almost swiftly shifted in the tourists’ favour after Chigumbura was clean-bowled by Hossain, only to survive after replays showed that the latter had bowled a no-ball. In the morning, the Bangladesh pace duo of Robiul Islam and Rubel Hossain vindicated their skipper’s decision to bowl as they made life very difficult for the opening pair. Zimbabwe scored just 50 runs in the first session. Maruma, largely known as a middle order batsman, found the going tough and was lucky to survive the first over after being dropped by Shahriah Nafees in the slips off the sixth delivery of the over. While Maruma looked the most likely to go out, it was his more senior partner Sibanda who perished first after he had his middle stump dismantled by a well-directed yorker from Islam for just five runs. Islam maintained his accurate line and length and soon trapped Maruma four overs later. The entry of Masakadza (25) and Taylor and the introduction of the spinners saw the hosts increasing the run rate as they managed a 43-run third wicket partnership. Masakadza’s would become the third wicket to fall after being caught at first slip by Mahmudullah off the bowling of offspinner Enamul Haque Jnr to leave Zimbabwe in trouble on 65-3. Taylor had been short of runs recently and responded in the best way to help Zimbabwe recover from an early setback and after the match said they would try to bat as long as possible today. “The first hour will be crucial for us tomorrow (today). We will try to get through that passage of play and try to settle down and bat as long as possible. Their spinners are less of a threat here, but all the same there is still a long way to go in the game,” Taylor said after the first day of play.