HARARE - Vusi Sibanda took five wickets with his part-time medium pace but Zimbabwe A ended day two of their second unofficial Test with Bangladesh reeling on 91-6, still 167 runs behind.
Bangladesh A totalled 258 runs at Fatullah after being asked to bat first. They scored 88 runs for no loss before rain restricted play to just 21.2 overs on the first day on Monday.
In response, Matabeleland Tuskers batsman Brian Chari carried Zimbabwe’s hope of reducing the deficit. The 22-year-old is currently unbeaten on 39 runs while his partner Wellington Masakadza is on four.
Veteran batsman Mark Vermeulen stands as the second highest scorer after contributing 31 runs before he was bowled by leg-spinner Jubair Hossain in the 18th over to leave Zimbabwe struggling on 54-4.
Zimbabwe A opener Tino Mawoyo lasted only four balls of the team’s innings before being caught by Hossain off seamer Shahadat Hossain.
Mawoyo’s was the first wicket of the two-match unofficial Test series to be taken by a seamer. The first four-dayer saw all the wickets going to the spinners for both sides.
Regis Chakabva was trapped plum by the seamer Shahadat Hossain for two runs after 2.1 while Sibanda failed to compliment his bowling heroics with the bat. He was also trapped plum by seamer Kamrul Islam Rabbi in the fourth over for six runs.
At this point Zimbabwe were still struggling to find their feet on 12-3.
Earlier, Shahriar Nafees, who notched a half century on the first day, fell three runs shy of a century after he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Chakabva to give Sibanda his first wicket of the game and tour.
His fellow opener, Shadman Islam ,was run out by Tino Mutombodzi for 60 runs in the 62nd over with the score on 195-2. The departure of both openers created in roads for the Zimbabweans, who seized the initiative and grabbed the last eight wickets for 63 runs.
Sibanda would finish with five wickets for 55 runs from 29 overs while left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza continued with his fine form, taking three for 55 runs from 24 overs while Mutombodzi claimed a single scalp.