Bangladesh v Zimbabwe
Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, 2004-05
Utpal Shuvro
15-Apr-2006
At Dhaka, January 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 2005. Drawn. Toss: Zimbabwe.
After their Chittagong triumph, Bangladesh ran into trouble in Dhaka. At the end
of the third day, coach Dav Whatmore candidly declared "Zimbabwe will win, unless
our batsmen do something special." The tourists were 290 ahead with four second-innings
wickets left; Bangladesh eventually needed 374 to win - or to survive five
sessions to ensure their first series victory.
When they batted out time, a delighted Whatmore announced that this draw was
better than a win: it proved Bangladesh could occupy the crease when required,
a significant step forward. There was even a chance of victory when their openers
reached 98 by the end of the fourth day. A last-day target of 276 looked achievable,
but they rejected the risk. "We were the leaders in the series: they had to chase us,"
said Whatmore.
A dramatic Test showcased two young talents. Zimbabwean captain Taibu batted
brilliantly to accumulate 238 runs for once out. He deservedly won the match award,
but had a strong rival in Enamul Haque junior, who scaled new heights to rewrite his
own national record, from the previous match, with seven for 95. In all, he collected
12 for 200. No Bangladeshi had previously taken more than seven in a Test.
Taibu chose to bat on a benign pitch. Zimbabwe threatened to get away, but were
pegged back by Enamul, and ended on 298, with Taibu himself stranded on 85.
Bangladesh's reply started strongly, but struck disaster when Hondo found unexpected
reverse swing with a relatively new ball. Bowling unchanged for 17 overs, he took the
first six wickets with only 107 on the board. It took a fighting fifty from Mohammad
Rafique, batting with rebellious abandon despite a hamstring injury, to get Bangladesh
past 200, and they trailed by 87.
A fiery spell from Mashrafe bin Mortaza reduced Zimbabwe to 37 for four second
time around before Taibu and Taylor forged a 150-run stand. But once Enamul rattled
Taylor's stumps, the wickets started falling again. Taibu had survived a run-out chance
on 53 and was dropped at slip on 67, but stood firm to reach his maiden Test hundred.
He added 67 for the ninth wicket with Hondo, whose contribution was three. Taibu
was last out for a monumental 153 in 340 minutes and 292 balls. Some astonishing
shots brought him 19 fours and two sixes, both off Enamul, and gave Zimbabwe a real
chance of levelling the series.
But Javed Omar and Nafis Iqbal dug in for a glorious rearguard action, batting two
sessions on the fourth day and bringing up Bangladesh's first century opening partnership
next morning. They were finally separated on 133, after 83 overs. Though Bangladesh
declined to chase the target, Iqbal advanced to his first Test century to ensure the draw
and a historic series win.
Man of the Match: T. Taibu.
Man of the Series: Enamul Haque, jun.