BBC: Bangladesh take control

[chinaman]

Tour match, Harare, day one of three (stumps):
Zimbabwe A 71-5 v Bangladesh 199 all out



Shariar Hossain dug in for Bangladesh with the bat


Seamer Alangir Kabir grabbed four wickets late on to give Bangladesh the advantage over Zimbabwe A on day one of a three-day warm-up.

The tourists were dismissed for 199 in an average display with the bat but reduced Zimbabwe A to 71-5 at stumps.

Alangir returned 4-24 in a nine-over spell that destroyed the top-order.

A rearguard innings by Shariar Hossain - in which he faced 174 balls and hit eight boundaries - was the cornerstone of Bangladesh's innings.

Lower down, Monjural Islam Rama made a valuable contribution of 40 as his colleagues collapsed around him.

Habibul Bashar was one of three top-order Bangladesh batsmen given out through controversial decisions. He made 10 before falling leg-before.

Zimbabwe spearhead Douglas Hondo was their most successful bowler with figures of 3-19.

Trevor Gripper, a Zimbabwe Test hopeful, was unbeaten on 25 at the close of play and looking sound.

If the home side lose him early on the second day, Bangladesh can look forward to a confidence-boosting victory ahead of the first Test in Harare starting on 19 February.

BBC