Jubair’s maiden five-wicket haul helps Bangladesh take lead

A maiden five-wicket haul by Jubair Hossain folded up Zimbabwe for 374 in the first innings of the third Test in Chittagong.

The leg-spinner returned with 5 for 96 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium on Friday.

Resistance from Hamilton Masakadza and opener Sikandar Raza for the second wicket stand and Elton Chigumbura and Regis Chakabva for the sixth were the Zimbabwe’s highlights of the day.

But none of their batsman carried on to convert the start into centuries despite making promising fifties after being provided with slices of fortune from the Bangladesh fielders.

The hosts were 23 for no wicket at the close of the day with an overall lead of 152 runs in their second innings on Day Three.

Openers Tamim Iqbal (8) and Imrul Kayes (11) survived a few scares as they came in to bat but held the Tigers’ fort without loss till stumps.

Zimbabwe started the day on 113 for one.

Hamilton Masakadza and Sikandar Raza passed the first hour without losing any wicket dealing Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam with ease.

The pair had added 160 when Hamilton (81) was trapped leg-before by Shafiul Islam for a much-needed breakthrough for the hosts.

The partnership stands as Zimbabwe’s best for the second wicket surpassing more than two decades old record of Alistair Campbell and Mark Dekker, 135 against Pakistan in 1993.

Moments later Jubair Hossain spun in two crucial breaks sending back captain Brendan Taylor (1) and Raza (72) in the same over.

The captain holed out to Taijul, who escaped clash with another fielder, while Raza edged back to Mahmudullah at slips.

Zimbabwe went into lunch on 200 for four.

Jubair, who extracted turn and bounce from the track throughout the day, bagged his third after the break, going through the gates of Craig Ervine (14).

Elton Chigumbura, in at seven, paired with Regis Chakabva for a recovery sixth wicket stand of 113 run. The duo fought hard in the second session as Chigumbura bludgeoned a six to help Zimbabwe cross the follow-on mark.

Both the batsmen were let off with Mahmudullah failing to hold on to catches from either batsman as they trudged on with the resistance.

Chigumbura had another life when captain Mushfiqur Rahim spilled a chance behind the stumps.

Shafiul came to the hosts’ rescue hitting Chakabva (65) in front of the wickets to disrupt the resistance before tea. The Africans had added 130 runs in the second session.

Zimbabwe were moving at a fair pace when Shakib bagged his first wicket of the match. Richmond Mutumbami was yet another batsman to fall trapped lbw. The all-rounder’s scalp was confirmed by the review system.

In the very next over Taijul sent back Shingi Masakadza without scoring to pick up his first. Zimbabwe were reduced to 357 for eight.

Jubair finished things off with wickets of Chigumbura (88) and Natsai M’shangwe (8) to reach his personal milestone.

Chigumbura’s 130-ball innings contained six boundaries and two sixes, both through long-on.

Shafiul bagged two wickets while Rubel Hossain, Shakib and Taijul picked up one each.