Friend torments Bangladesh

DHAKA, NOV. 10. Travis Friend gave a superb all-round performance to boost Zimbabwe's chances of posting an innings victory over Bangladesh in the first Test here on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Zimbabwean, with just 66 runs in his previous three Tests, slammed a career-best 81 to help his team reach 431 in reply to Bangladesh's first-innings total of 107.

He then returned to trouble Bangladesh as a new-ball bowler, taking two wickets to reduce the home team to 125 for three in the second innings on the third day. The host still require 199 more runs with seven wickets in hand to make Zimbabwe bat again.

Friend did not allow Bangladesh to get off to a solid start as he had opener Al Sahariar (five) caught by Grant Flower in his second over. His second wicket came in the day's last over when he dismissed Habibul Bashar.

Bashar, who top-scored with a defiant 65, was involved in a 102- run stand for the second wicket with opener Javed Omar (35).

Aminul Islam was batting on six and Mohammad Ashraful was yet to open his account when bad light stopped play.

Friend, who claimed five wickets in the first innings on Thursday, was in the limelight in the morning session for his solid batting as his team, resuming at 348 for seven, scored 83 runs for the last three wickets before being all out just after lunch.

Friend, without a half-century before this match, batted confidently against both fast bowlers and spinners to keep the pressure on Bangladesh.

The lower-order batsman, 38 overnight, struck nine boundaries off 161 deliveries before being bowled by left-arm spinner Enamul Haque. He was involved in two useful partnerships which put his team in a commanding position.

Friend put on 108 for the eighth wicket with former captain Heath Streak (65) and 50 for the next with current skipper Brian Murphy (25).

Streak added just eight runs to his overnight score of 57 before being caught by wicket-keeper Khaled Masud off debutant seamer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

- AFP

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Section  : Sport
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