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Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh 1st Innings — 193 for 3 (Tamim Iqbal 74*, Mohammad Mahmudullah 56; Tinashe Panyangara 2-29)
Zimbabwe produced a disciplined bowling effort that slowed Bangladesh’s progress and ensured the hosts sweated for each one of the 193 runs they eventually reached on the first day of the second test against Zimbabwe.

Relying on accuracy and well-considered field-sets, the Zimbabwe bowlers toiled all day on a slow wicket at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, but the hosts were adamant not to lose wickets even if it meant scoring at a pedestrian rate of 2.14 runs per over.

Opting to bat first, opener Tamim Iqbal set the tone of such an approach, as the usually free-scoring left-hander batted for the whole day depending mostly on singles to finish at stumps on an unbeaten 74 runs off a mammoth 250 balls – by far his longest Test innings.

All-rounder Elton Chigumbura, improving with each outing with ball in hand, was the first to strike when the Decision Review System overruled Billy Bowden’s provisional decision not to dismiss Shamsur Rahman to a delivery that swung in to smash his pads half-way up the stumps. Iqbal then combined with Mominul Haque to add 72 runs for the second wicket partnership, before Mominul offered a return catch to a diving Tinashe Panyangara for 35.

Mohammad Mahmudullah came in at four and added 95 for the third wicket with Iqbal. Mahmudullah fell for 56 runs towards the end of the day, undone by a Panyangara in-ducker using the second new ball.

Debutant leg-spinner Natsai M’shangwe, who replaced fellow leg-spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi, bowled well without luck in his first outing. M’shangwe extracted turn and bounce and looked threatening with a few turning prodigiously past the outside edge, yet his maiden Test scalp remained elusive.

Shakib Al Hasan is currently at the crease on 13, and Bangladesh will look to him on Tuesday to increase the scoring rate and partner Iqbal to steer them to a competitive first innings total.

With the second new ball still only eight overs old, Zimbabwe will hope to strike early in the morning, and then put up a better batting display in reply.

Zimbabwe made three changes: debutant M’shangwe in for Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Vusumuzi Sibanda replaced by another debutant Brian Chari and an extra batter in Malcolm Waller chosen ahead of John Nyumbu.

Bangladesh brought in Al-Amin Hossain in place of Rubel Hossain.

Teams

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Shamsur Rahman, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain, wicket-keeper), Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain and Jubair Hossain.

Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza Butt, Brian Chari, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor (captain), Malcolm Waller, Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura, Regis Chakabva (wicket-keeper), Tinashe Panyangara, Natsai M’shangwe and Tendai Chatara. — Cricinfo.