Bangladesh VS Zimbabwe One Of Test 
Played at Harare Cricket Stadium, Zimbabwe (July 7-11) 2021 

Brief Scorecard at Stump of Day Two
Bangladesh 468 All Out (Mahmudullah Riad 150*, Liton K Das 95, Taskin Ahmed 75, Mominul Haq 70, Extras 39, Blessing Muzarabani 4/94 ,Donald Tiripano 2/58, Victor Nayuchi 2/92) 
Zimbabwe 114/1 (Milton Sumba 41, Brendan Taylor 37* , Takudzwanasha Kaitano 33 , Shakib Al Hasan 1/43)

Zimbabwe Is Trailing by 354 runs with 9 first innings wickets at hand
Mahmudullah Riad (150*) and Taskin Ahmed (75) displaying wonderful brand of tail wagging not only steered Bangladesh out of troubled water but put them on the drivers seat at stumps of day two. Bangladesh finished their innings at 468. Home team also responded positively finishing the day at 114/1. Wicket lost its pace and sun shone. The all important day three would dictate which direction the match would be heading. There is possibility of wicket taking turn. That is the only way Shakib and Meraj may cause impacts. Otherwise the match may head towards a tame draw. 

191 runs 9th wicket partnership between test discard veteran Bangladeshi batsman Mahmudullah Riad and back again in the national team as premiere pace bowler Taskin Ahmed falling 4 runs short of the all time test record was the feature of day two in the one off test match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. 

Mahmudullah one of the five exceptionally talented cricketer Bangladesh produced over the past decade was axed from test cricket for his not too good form with the bat with red cherry. Not that those played in his position was doing better. He was rather considered better for white ball cricket and made captain of T20 format. But he continued to perform way better than most in whatever little cricket Bangladesh cricket played during COVID. Bangladesh continued to ignore the veteran Riad. Even during this tour he was included in the test squad only at the last minute as Tamim and Mushfique nursing injury were unsure of playing. Riad’s match defining sterling performance proved BCB people wrong. He is not a player to be ignored in any situation of Bangladesh cricket .He must play in all format and bat at any position between 3-5 . 

Taskin returned to all formats of cricket working relentlessly in rehabilitation after several incidents of injury. He in his recent opportunities impressed in all formats with pace and movement. Whether or not playing him in a two man only pace attack preferring above test bowling regular Abu Jayed Rahi is to be proved. But him batting way better than genuine top order batsmen in this test should be an eye opener for the team management that Bangladesh must be more proactive in the process of organizing the team. For winning test you need at least 5 genuine bowlers and not 9 batsmen. 

Bangladesh resumed day two at 294/8 . Mahmudullah was on 54 and Taskin on 13. Many thought 320-330 could be a reasonable first innings score . But the wicket flattened out a bit. Even with second new ball home team pacers could not bowl at consistent length in the right corridor. Mahmuduallah with his calm calculative approach not only kept the momentum going but also shepherded Taskin in playing some attractive strokes restraining him constantly from taking tail enders liberty. The partnership blossomed. Home team lost the plot.  Some typical stokes of Taskin (cover drives, cuts ) looked classical . He played most with straight bat. His career best 75 put his much-revered mates batting at top order to shame.

On the other hand nothing can be too much to pen picture the innings of Riad. His career best-unbeaten 150 had class, character and competence.  It was a fitting response to those who dares to ignore such a talented player even during the leanest period of Bangladesh in test cricket.

191 runs 9th wicket partnership set many milestones but fell just 4 runs short of all time best . Anyway 468 that Bangladesh scored can be a match winning score depending on how the wicket behaves on day three and four. Although Zimbabwe batted reasonably well finishing the day at 114/1 yet Shakib  and Meraj may create panic as wicket is drying out. Mominul should also use Raid as and when he feels as four men Bangladesh attack would run out of resources proving another flawed decision of the team think tank. 

BDST: 1545 HRS, JUL 09, 2021
SMS