UNB, Dhaka : Bangladesh took 152 runs lead against Zimbabwe after first innings on third day in their third and final match of the Bashundhara Cement Test Series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Friday. Restricting Zimbabwe at 374 in the first innings, Bangladesh (503 runs in 1st innings) took 129 runs lead to open second innings on third day (Friday) and scored 23 runs for no loss in 9 overs to extend the lead to 152 runs at stumps on the day. Openers Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal were batting on 11 and 8 runs respectively, pursuing a first 3-0 series win. Zimbabwe earlier resumed their first innings with overnight 113/1 in 26 overs and were all out for 374 in 106 overs. The day’s 6th wicket stand of 113 runs in 28.4 overs by Elton Chigumbura and RW Chakabva helped the visitors to carry the total from 209/5 to 322/6 in 86.5 overs before Regis Chakabva was trapped leg before by pacer Shafiul Islam. Chigumbura scored team highest 88 runs off 130 balls with six fours and two sixes before caught by Imrul Kayes off Jubair Hossain with scoreboard showing 360 for 9 in 103.2 overs. Number five batsman Chakabva scored 65 runs off 136 balls with seven fours. Overnight pair of opener Sikandar Raza and one down H Masakadza in the second wicket stand contributed 160 runs in 41.4 overs before H Masakadza was trapped leg before by Shafiul Islam leaving team total 169 for 2 in 43.4 overs. Sikandar Raza scored 82 runs off 111 balls with 10 fours before he was caught by Mahmudullah off Jubair Hossain while H Masakadza scored 81 runs off 151 balls with nine fours and a six. Richmond Mutumbami (20) and Craig Ervine (14) were the other double digit scorers for the visitors on the third day. Jubair grabbed five wickets for 96 runs in 20 overs while Shafiul Islam took two wickets for 50 runs in 18 overs. Rubel Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam took one wicket each for 46, 67 and 100 runs respectively. Brief score: Bangladesh first innings: 503 for all in 153.4 overs (overnight 303 for 2 in 90 overs); Imrul Kayes 130, Tamim Iqbal 109, Shakib Al Hasan 71, Mominul Haque 48, Rubel Hossain not out 45, Shuvagata Hom 35, Sikandar Raza 3/123, H Masakadza 2/23, Tinashe Panyangara 2/70, S Masakadza 2/77.
