Chattogram, April 30:
Melody Hasan Mira delivered a stellar performance on Day 3 of the second and final test against Zimbabwe in Ch attogram, scoring his second Test century to put Bangladesh in a commanding position. With a dominant first innings total of 444, Bangladesh now hold a 217-run lead over Zimbabwe.
Earlier, opener Shaman Islam had laid a solid foundation with a composed 120-run knock on Day 2. Mira picked up where Shaman left off, crafting a resilient and calculated innings that showcased his growing prowess as a lower-order batsman.
Steady Progress Despite Rain Interruptions
Bangladesh resumed Day 3 at 291 for 7, but rain delayed proceedings. Once play resumed, Tail Islam added a gritty 20 runs before being dismissed. Melody Hasan Mira, meanwhile, showed remarkable patience and focus, reaching his half-century quickly and crossing the 2,000 Test runs milestone along the way.
He eventually brought up his century with a boundary, finishing on 102 runs off 143 deliveries, including 11 fours and a six. This was Mira’s second career century, the first having come against the West Indies in 2021.
Lower-Order Support and Milestone Moment
Despite losing partners at the other end, Mira stood tall. Debutant Tandem Hasan Sahib impressed with a 41-run knock before falling just four runs short of a century partnership with Mira. The final boost came from Hasan Mahmud, who offered valuable support to help Mira reach his milestone.
Eventually, Bangladesh were bowled out for 444 runs in 129.2 overs, firmly placing themselves in control of the Test. Zimbabwe’s debutant Vincent Masekesa was the standout bowler, claiming 5 wickets for 115 runs.
Zimbabwe’s Struggle in the First Innings
Earlier, Zimbabwe had chosen to bat first after winning the toss but were bundled out for 227. Sean Williams top-scored with 67 runs, while Nick Welch added 54. For Bangladesh, Tail Islam took 6 wickets, with Nadeem Hasan and Tandem contributing two and one wickets respectively.
With a 217-run lead and Zimbabwe facing an uphill battle in their second innings, Bangladesh are now well-poised to seal the Test series in style.