Elton Chigumbura took five wickets for 54 runs and captain Habibul Bashar hit a half-century on Sunday to give Bangladesh a commanding 380-run lead over Zimbabwe on the fourth day of the first cricket Test.
Mohammad Rafique was unbeaten at 14, with Enamul Haque yet to bat, when Bangladesh declared their second innings at 204 for nine after tea — backed by a hefty first-innings total of 488.
Zimbabwe lost two early wickets for only two runs when they resumed their run chase, with paceman Tapash Baishya picking up opener Barney Rogers and Vusimuzi Sibanda for ducks.
Rogers was caught at second-slip by substitute fielder Manjural Islam Rana, while Sibanda was adjudged lbw.
A 40-run partnership between opener Stuart Matsikenyeri and Hamilton Masakadza for the third wicket added 40 runs to Zimbabwe’s score, before Enamul Haque bowled out Matsikenyeri for 20.
Masakadza (26) and Brendan Taylor (0) were batting with Zimbabwe at 46-3 when play stopped for the day due to poor light with one allotted over remaining.
Rafique and Mashrafee Bin Murtaza earlier claimed the last two wickets to dismiss Zimbabwe for a first-innings total of 312.
Bangladesh launched their second innings with a 176-run lead, but lost opener Nafis Iqbal early for a duck — caught by Taylor off Douglas Hondo, his first wicket in the match.
Hondo struck again in the 12th over, dismissing opener Rajin Saleh — caught and bowled for 26 off 42 balls, including five boundaries.
Bashar and Mohammad Ashraful batted cautiously to rebuild the Bangladesh innings after the hosts lost two openers early at 47 — both wickets taken by fast-bowler Hondo.
Christopher Mpofu had Ashraful (22) caught behind by wicketkeeper-captain Tatenda Taibu after lunch.
Aftab Ahmed was then caught by Graeme Cremer at mid-on off Chigumbura.
Bashar was Chigumbura’s next victim, caught by Hamilton Masakadza. Bashar made his 50 off 69 balls with six boundaries.
Hondo took 3-59, with Mashud (23) becoming his third victim after he was caught by Cremer at deep third-man.
Chigumbura dismissing Javed Omar (15) and tail-enders Bin Murtaza (19) and Baishya (1).
Zimbabwe lost their last two wickets of the first innings for four runs in 35 minutes after resuming at the overnight score of 308 for eight.
Murtaza had overnight batsman Hondo caught behind for one, while Rafique snared the last Zimbabwean wicket, Mluleki Nkala, for 23.
Nkala’s dismissal raised Rafique’s tally to five for 65 runs in 41,4 overs, while Murtaza returned innings figures of three wickets for 59 runs.
This is Zimbabwe’s first Test match since losing International Cricket Council Test status after a boycott by most of their top players prompted a massive loss to Sri Lanka in May.
Subsequent tours by Australia and England featured limited-overs matches only.
Zimbabwe have not won an international match since beating Bangladesh in a limited-overs series earlier last year.
Bangladesh are yet to register a win in the 34 Tests they have played since gaining full membership of the International Cricket Council in 2000 — losing 31 and drawing three, including two losses against Zimbabwe. — Sapa-AP