Zimbabwe close in on Test win after Taylor feat

Brendan Taylor salutes fans after losing his wicket on the second day of Bangladesh Test on April 18, 2013 in Harare.  By Jekesai Njikizana (AFP)

Brendan Taylor salutes fans after losing his wicket on the second day of Bangladesh Test on April 18, 2013 in Harare. By Jekesai Njikizana (AFP)






HARARE (AFP) – Brendan Taylor became just the third Zimbabwean batsmen to score centuries in both innings of a Test match before his side moved to within four wickets of a resounding victory over Bangladesh in the first Test at Harare Sports Club.

Set an unlikely 483 runs to win the match after Taylor had reached his landmark early on day four, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals and went to tea on 136 for six.

Kyle Jarvis did most of the damage with the ball, bowling Shahriar Nafees and having both Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan caught.

Shingirai Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura picked up a wicket apiece, while top scorer Mohammad Ashraful was run out in bizarre fashion for 40 just moments before the tea break to leave Bangladesh facing a heavy defeat.

Earlier Taylor had become the first Zimbabwean captain to score twin tons in the same Test, and the third of any Zimbabwean after brothers Grant and Andy Flower.

Although Taylor’s 171 and 102 not out were perhaps not quite as impressive as Andy Flower’s 142 and 199 not out in a losing cause at the same venue against the stronger opposition of South Africa in 2001, it nevertheless came in a match where no other batsman has passed 55.

Zimbabwe resumed on their overnight total of 187 for seven, with Taylor on 81, and the 27-year-old required just eight overs to get to three figures as he and Keegan Meth, who made 31 not out, batted aggressively.