Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Only Test Day 4 Preview: Zimbabwe need to bat their hearts out

Given the happenings on Day 3, one outcome is a real possibility on the fourth day of the one-off Test in Dhaka: a Bangladesh win.

Mushfiqur Rahim scored a double century and added 222 runs with Mominul Haque for the fourth wicket as Bangladesh posted a mammoth lead of 295 over Zimbabwe, who were bowled out for 265 in their first innings.

Even after that stand was broken – Ainsley Ndlovu did well to hold on to a return catch from Mominul – Bangladesh continued to dominate when Liton Das and Rahim stuck together a 111-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Rahim went on to score his third Test double-century after that partnership, and his second against Zimbabwe. In doing so, he also toppled Tamim Iqbal in the all-time Test run charts for Bangladesh, and he is now the top run-scorer for the country in Tests.

Once Rahim had reached his landmark – he ended unbeaten on 203 – Mominul decided to declare the innings, and have a pop at Zimbabwe before stumps. And it worked a charm.

Zimbabwe were reduced to 0/2, with Prince Masvaure and Donald Tripano both being dismissed for nought. Nayeem Hasan, the off-spinner, was the destructor in chief, cleaning up Masvaure first before inducing an edge off Tripano.

Brendan Taylor and Kevin Kasuza held on till stumps thereafter, but Zimbabwe have their work cut out if they are to gain anything from this Test. For starters, Kasuza and Taylor have to dig in and put on a partnership. Take it hour by hour, see off the spinners, and chop down the deficit.

Do the Zimbabwe batsmen have the gumption to hold off the Bangladesh spinners? It’ll be interesting to see.

Key players

Nayeem Hasan (Bangladesh): Bangladesh know spin is Zimbabwe’s weakness and Nayeen Hasan proved that in the first innings with his four-wicket haul. He’s already got six wickets for the match, and will be determined to make the most of obliging opponents.

Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe): As Zimbabwe’s most experienced batsman, the onus is on Taylor to see them through this. Zimbabwe have always shown an appetite for a fight, but whether they can do so on turning tracks against poisonous spinners remains to be seen. Taylor will play a big role if they are to do that.

Brief scores

Zimbabwe 265 & 9/2 (Kevin Kasuza 8*; Nayeem Hasan 2/ 4) vs Bangladesh 560/6 declared (Mominul Haque 132, Mushfiqur Rahim 203*; Ainsley Ndlovu 2/170)

Prediction

Zimbabwe to be bundled out for around 125 and suffer an innings defeat.