Masakadza and Williams help Zimbabwe’s lead past 200

Captain Hamilton Masakadza and Sean Williams combined to help Zimbabwe stretch its lead to 230 at lunch on the third day of the first cricket test against Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe 282 and 91 for 2 (Masakadza 39*, Williams 16*) lead Bangladesh 143 (Ariful 41*, Chatara 3-19, Raza 3-35) by 230 runs

The pair came together at the fall of Brendan Taylor’s wicket, when he was very well caught by Imrul Kayes running back from mid-on. Taylor struck four boundaries in his 25-ball 24 that added some energy into the Zimbabwe innings after it was meandering along at less than two runs per over in the first hour.

Zimbabwe was 91-2 at the first interval Monday, with Masakadza unbeaten on 39 and Williams on 16.

Offspinner Mehidy Hasan gave Bangladesh an early breakthrough, dismissing opener Brain Chari for 4 to give the hosts a hope of a rally.

But Brendan Taylor counterattacked, hitting 24 from 25 balls in a bid to keep Bangladesh’s spinners at bay.

He stroked four boundaries before left-arm spinner Taijul Islam ended Taylor’s attacking knock when he had him caught in the deep at long-on.

Bangladesh was bowled out for 143 in the first innings, its seventh successive test innings below 200, in reply of Zimbabwe’s 282.