Zimbabwe on top during dramatic third day

HARARE (AFP) –

Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah is clean bowled during the third day of the first Test match against Zimbabwe at the harare Sports Club, on April 19, 2013. Zimbabwe have taken a firm grip on the first Test against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club – despite slipping to 27 for four in their second innings on a wicket-filled third day.

Zimbabwe took a firm grip on the first Test against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club – despite slipping to 27 for four in their second innings on a wicket-filled third day on Friday.

Thirteen wickets tumbled in the first two sessions of Friday – two more than had fallen on the previous two days combined – but by tea Zimbabwe had recovered to 62 for four and a healthy lead of 317.

Bangladesh began the day on 95 for one, but suffered a horrific batting collapse to be bowled out for 134 shortly after lunch and give Zimbabwe a first-innings lead of 255.

Each of the Bangladeshi top three made 29 or more, but the next eight batsmen managed just 18 runs between them, with the last four all registering ducks. The last five wickets went down without a run being added.

Zimbabwe fast bowler Kyle Jarvis’ disciplined spell of six overs for one run at the start of the day set the platform for Keegan Meth and Shingirai Masakadza to rip out five wickets before lunch, before Jarvis returned after the break to claim three wickets in seven balls.

Despite Zimbabwe’s significant advantage, captain Brendan Taylor opted not to enforce the follow-on – a decision that looked to have backfired when Robiul Islam took four wickets for nine runs at the start of the Zimbabwean second innings.

However Taylor added an unbeaten 25 to the 171 he scored in the first innings to steady the home side, and found able support from Elton Chigumbura, who was 16 not out at tea.