Photo : Collected

DHAKA, June 29, 2026 (BSS) - Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam put up a stellar bowling performance on a day otherwise dominated by Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club today.

Taijul claimed 7-138 to help Bangladesh bowl Zimbabwe out for 410 in their first innings on Day 2, in reply to Bangladesh's modest 140.

Zimbabwe secured a commanding 270-run lead, which could have been even larger had Taijul not sparked a late collapse.

The left-arm spinner triggered Zimbabwe's downfall in the final session as the hosts lost their last five wickets for just 28 runs.

Bangladesh, however, reached 40-1 in nine overs at stumps, still trailing by 230 runs and needing a strong batting effort to avoid making Zimbabwe bat 
again.

With his seven-wicket haul, Taijul, Bangladesh's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, registered his 19th five-wicket haul, equalling Shakib Al Hasan's 
national record.

Opener Innocent Kaia led Zimbabwe's charge with a superb 140, while Wessly Madhevere remained unbeaten on 77. Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett contributed 60 and 59 respectively.

Resuming the day at 136-1, Zimbabwe lost overnight batter Brendan Taylor for 17 in the fourth over, with pacer Syed Khaled Ahmed providing Bangladesh's 
breakthrough to leave the hosts at 149-2.

From that point onward, Taijul claimed seven of the remaining eight wickets, including five in succession after the tea break.

Following Taylor's dismissal, Kaia and Bennett frustrated the visitors with a 107-run partnership for the third wicket, putting Zimbabwe firmly in control.

Bennett fell for an aggressive 59 off 67 balls, striking nine boundaries before Taijul broke the stand.

A few overs later, Taijul struck another decisive blow by dismissing Kaia for a magnificent 140 off 227 deliveries. Kaia's maiden Test century featured 17 boundaries and laid the foundation for Zimbabwe's commanding position.

Bangladesh sensed an opportunity when Tafadzwa Tsiga was run out for one, just two balls after Kaia's dismissal, reducing Zimbabwe to 280-5.

However, Ervine and Madhevere denied the visitors further success with a resolute 102-run partnership.

Taijul eventually removed Ervine to end the stand and sparked a dramatic collapse as Zimbabwe lost their last five wickets for only 28 runs. He finished with outstanding figures of 7-138, while Khaled returned 2-68.

Bangladesh made a fluent start to their second innings despite facing a 270-run deficit, but Zimbabwe captain Richard Ngarava dismissed Shadman Islam for 9, further tightening the hosts' grip on the match.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy was batting on 21 with Mominul who top-scored Bangladesh with 60 in the first innings, on 9.