Associated Press

Dhaka, January 15:

Zimbabwe speedster Douglas Hondo took a career-best six wickets for 39 runs on Saturday as Bangladesh struggled 169-8 on the second day of the second Test. Mohammad Rafique smashed a fighting half-century and his 36-run eighth wicket stand with Mashrafee Bin Murtaza lead the Bangladesh 1st innings chase of Zimbabwe’s total of 298 before play stopped for the day at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu National Stadium. Mashrafee Bin Murtaza (4) and Tapash Baishya (0) were at the crease at stumps.

Earlier, spinner Enamul Haque continued his dominating form to take three wickets for 21 runs. With his four wicket haul on the first day, Haque returned 1st innings figures of 7-95, becoming Bangladesh’s most successful bowler. Bangladesh openers Javed Omar and Nafis Iqbal notched 58 before Omar (34) was caught behind by Zimbabwe skipper Tatenda Taibu off Hondo. Hondo also dismissed Iqbal (28) in a similar manner with Bangladesh at 71, before claiming Mohammad Ashraful, who was adjudged lbw at 5. Hondo had his fourth wicket when he bowled out Bashar (10) just after tea with Bangladesh at 85. He then had Aftab Ahmed caught by Stuart Matsikenyeri for a duck at midwicket, before bowling out Khaled Mashud, also for no runs, with the score at 107.

Hondo, 25, ended his spell at 6-45 in 17 overs with 6 maidens. His previous best of 3-49 was also against Bangladesh in Harare last February. Batting at No 5, Rajin Saleh hit 24 before he was caught at short cover by Hamilton Masakadza off a Graeme Cremer delivery. Rafique, playing with a nagging leg injury, hit his second Test fifty off 57 balls including seven boundaries and a six. His spirited knock ended at 56 when Dion Ebrahim caught him at deep cover off Hamilton Masakadza.

Resuming at the overnight score of 244-6, Taibu posted an unbeaten 85 runs before running out of partners just before lunch. Taibu’s sixth half-century in 18 matches came off 172 balls including five boundaries. Tinashe Panyangara (21) was caught behind off Mashrafee Bin Murtaza, with the score at 257. Haque then bowled Cremer (1) and Hondo (9) before finishing off Christopher Mpofu for a duck.