CHITTAGONG - Zimbabwe’s top order came good to put up a strong reply to Bangladesh’s huge first innings total of 503 on the second day of the third and final Test in Chittagong on Thursday. Opener Sikandar Raza remained unbeaten on 54 and Hamilton Masakadza was on 51 as the tourists reached 113-1 by stumps, still trailing by 390 runs with nine wickets in hand.
The pair added 104 for the unbroken second wicket after opener Brian Chari was caught behind off Rubel Hossain without scoring. Rubel had earlier shone with the bat, making an entertaining 45 off 44 balls to help Bangladesh post their highest total against Zimbabwe, surpassing the 488 in Chittagong in 2005.
After nine wickets had fallen for 452 runs, Rubel smashed four sixes and two boundaries during a last-wicket stand of 51 with Jubair Hossain. Openers Tamim Iqbal (109) and Imrul Kayes (130) had laid the platform for a big total on Wednesday and Shakib Al Hasan led Bangladesh’s batting charge on the second day with 71. Zimbabwe’s bowlers prevented a bigger total by claiming eight wickets in the first two sessions after the hosts resumed the day at a commanding 303-2.
Mominul Haque added just two runs to his overnight score of 46 when he was caught the slips by Brendan Taylor off Tinashe Panyangara.
 Shingi Masakadza trapped Mohammad Mahmudullah leg-before for 16 before Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim dragged a low ball from Hamilton Masakadza on to his stumps after making 15. The hosts are hoping to sweep the series 3-0 after winning the first two Tests in Dhaka and Khulna. The Test series between the two lowest-ranked teams will be followed by five one-day internationals.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS:
(OVERNIGHT: 303-2):
Tamim Iqbal c H. Masakadza b Raza    109
Imrul Kayes c sub b H Masakadza    130
Mominul Haque c Taylor b Panyangara    48
M Mahmudullah lbw b S. Masakadza    16
Shakib Al Hasan c Ervine b Raza    71
Mushfiqur Rahim b H. Masakadza    15
Shuvagata Hom run out    35
Taijul Islam c Mutumbami b S. Masakadza    1
Shafiul Islam c Ervine b Raza    10
Rubel Hossain not out    45
Jubair Hossain b Panyangara    5
EXTRAS: (b2, lb10, w6)    18
TOTAL: (all out, 153.4 overs)    503
FOW: 1-224, 2-272, 3-312, 4-339, 5-378, 6-428, 7-429, 8-451, 9-452, 10-503
BOWLING: Panyangara 20.4-2-70-2, Chigumbura 14-4-40-0, S Masakadza 25-5-77-2, M’shangwe 47-5-149-0, Raza 36-2-123-3, Chari 2-0-9-0, H Masakadza 9-1-23-2.
ZIMBABWE 1ST INNINGS:
S Raza not out    54
B Chari c Rahim b Rubel    0
H Masakadza not out    51
EXTRAS: (b6, lb1, nb1)    8
TOTAL: (for one wicket, 26 overs)    113
FOW: 1-9
BOWLING: Shafiul 5-1-20-0, Rubel 5-1-27-1, Taijul 9-0-31-0, Shakib 5-2-16-0, Jubair 1-0-11-0, Shuvagata 1-0-1-0
TOSS: Bangladesh
UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pak) and Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
TV UMPIRE: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)
MATCH REFEREE: Chris Broad (ENG)