Cricket: Bangladesh win test series for first time

DHAKA - Bangladesh won their first test cricket series today when the second match against Zimbabwe petered out to a tame draw.

Set 378 to win, Bangladesh resumed on 98 for no wicket but never realistically chased the target and finished on 285 for five with Nafis Iqbal scoring 121, his maiden test century.

Rajin Saleh finished on 56 not out while Khaled Mashud was on 28 to ensure the hosts won their first series since being granted test status in 2000.

Bangladesh won the first test in Chittagong by 226 runs, their first test victory in 35 matches.

"We are disappointed because bowling over 140 overs we should be able to get them out," said Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu. "Their spinners are more consistent than our spinners."

Taibu, who scored his maiden test century in the second innings, was named man of the match.

Taibu was the mainstay of Zimbabwe's batting, scoring 92 in the first test and 85 not out in the first innings in Dhaka. He was the series' highest run scorer with 330 and had an average of 110.

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr finished with match figures of 12-200 and was the series' highest wicket taker with 18 at an average of 16.66.

The hosts had begun the final session on 196 for three and lost Iqbal shortly after the break without adding to the score while Aftab Ahmed fell 10 runs later to give the visitors a sniff of victory.

Saleh and wicketkeeper Mashud, however, dug in to ensure they held on for the draw and series victory.

"The innings of Nafis Iqbal brought the match into our direction," said Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar. "But the fall of successive wickets put us on the back foot again, (so) we headed for a draw."

Zimbabwe have just returned from suspension after the International Cricket Council ruled the team was too weak to play test cricket.

Scoreboard after the final day of the second and final test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe on Tuesday:

Zimbabwe first innings 298 (T.Taibu 85 not out, S.Matsikenyeri 51; Enamul Haque jnr 7-95)

Bangladesh first innings 211 (Mohammad Rafique 56; D.Hondo 6-59)

Zimbabwe second innings 286 (T.Taibu 153, B.Taylor 78; Enamul Haque jnr 5-105)

Bangladesh second innings (overnight 98-0)
Javed Omar c Taylor b Cremer 43
Nafis Iqbal c Taylor b Panyangara 121
Habibul Bashar c Masakadza b Panyangara 2
Mohammad Ashraful c Ebrahim b Cremer 3
Rajin Saleh not out 56
Aftab Ahmed c Taibu b Panyangara 5
Khaled Mashud not out 28
Extras (b-13 lb-6 nb-8) 27
Total (for five wickets, 142 overs) 285

Fall of wickets: 1-133 2-148 3-153 4-196 5-206

Did not bat: Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafe Mortaza, Tapash Baisya, Enamul Haque Junior.

Bowling: Panyangara 21-10-28-3 (nb-6), Mpofu 22-10-29-0, Hondo 21-7-37-0, Chigumbura 19-7-31-0 (nb-1), Cremer 34-9-61-2 (nb-1), Matsikenyeri 8-0-41-0, Masakadza 10-3-11-0, Taylor 4-0-11-0, Rogers 3-0-17-0

Result: Match drawn

Bangladesh won the series 1-0.

First test: Jan 6-10 in Chittagong, Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 226 runs.

- REUTERS