DHAKA - Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah and Mominul Haque scored half-centuries as Bangladesh gained a slender 14-run lead over Zimbabwe in the first Test in Dhaka on Sunday.
The hosts, replying to Zimbabwe's first innings total of 240, were dismissed for 254 just before stumps on the second day at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. Zimbabwe were five for no loss in their second knock at close of play, needing a competitive total to challenge Bangladesh on a wearing wicket. Skipper Mushfiqur top-scored for Bangladesh with 64, Mahmudullah made 63 and Mominul chipped in with 53 in overcast conditions that forced the floodlights to be turned on.
Bangladesh were restricted by three run outs and a maiden five-wicket haul from seamer Tinashe Panyangara, who finished with 5-59. Resuming at the overnight score of 27-1, Bangladesh lost Shamsur Rahman in the third over when he spooned a catch to Elton Chigumbura at mid-off off Panyangara. Mominul, who shared a third-wicket stand of 63 with Mahmudullah, was run out before the lunch break by a direct throw from Sikandar Raza in the cover region.
Shakib Al Hasan too was run out soon after lunch for five, while Mahmudullah was adjudged leg-before off part-time spinner Raza when the appeal was referred to the third umpire. Mahmudullah was initially adjudged not out, but replays showed the ball hitting his leg-stump. Mushfiqur batted solidly till he miscued a pull off Panyangara to Craig Ervine at square leg.
Shahadat Hossain was the third batsman to be run out and Bangladesh managed to take the lead only after number eight Taijul Islam scored 19. Panyangara bowled both Taijul and last batsman Al-Amin Hossain to complete his five-wicket haul. Zimbabwe's tour of Bangladesh comprises three Tests and five one-day internationals.

Scoreboard

ZIMBABWE FIRST INNINGS: 240
BANGLADESH FIRST INNINGS:
(OVERNIGHT 27-1)
Tamim c Masakadza b Panyangara    5
Shamsur c Chigumbura b Panyangara    8
Mominul Haque run out    53
M Mahmudullah lbw b Raza    63
Shakib Al Hasan run out    5
Mushfiqur c Ervine b Panyangara    64
Shuvagata c Chigumbura b Kamungozi    14
Taijul Islam b Panyangara    19
Shahadat Hossain run out    0
Jubair Hossain not out    7
Al-Amin Hossain b Panyangara    9
EXTRAS: (lb6, w1)    7
TOTAL: (all out; 98 overs)    254
FOW: 1-10, 2-29, 3-92, 4-114, 5-178, 6-209, 7-226, 8-226, 9-244, 10-254
BOWLING: Panyangara 23-5-59-5 (w1), Chatara 22-11-27-0, Chigumbura 14-6-34-0, Nyumbu 15-1-65-0, Kamungozi 21-5-51-1, Raza 3-0-12-1
ZIMBABWE SECOND INNINGS:
V Sibanda not out    5
R Chakabva not out    0
EXTRAS:    0
TOTAL: (for no wicket, 2 overs)    5
BOWLING: Shahadat 1-0-5-0, Shakib 1-1-0-0
TOSS: Zimbabwe
UMPIRES: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), S. Ravi (IND)
TV UMPIRE: Billy Bowden (NZL)
MATCH REFEREE: Chris Broad (ENG)