Zimbabwe won the toss, elected to bat and posted 363/7 at tea on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Harare.

Heath Streak

A half-hour shower, although very light, prevented play from getting under way after lunch. When the covers were removed, Heath Streak and Sean Ervine resumed with the Zimbabwe total on 288/5 and with respective scores of nine and 83.

Both men batted as if the Harare field had been turned into a tar pit. They could hardly get the ball off the wicket, not to mention score a run. Although they were in a relatively solid position in the match, the sixth-wicket pair allowed the Bangladesh attack to bowl at them. As a result, Habibul Bashar could keep two slips in and a strong off-side field.

It came as little surprise when, after half an hour of turgid play, Ervine dabbed a length delivery straight to second slip. Hannan Sarkar took the catch, Tapash Baisya celebrated and Ervine stalked off 14 runs short of a maiden Test ton.

Andy Blignaut jolted the sparse crowd out of their stupor by playing a few shots. It was thus a great disappointment from a spectators' point of view that he only lasted 20 minutes. The left-hander decided to come down the wicket to Mohammad Rafique, missed the delivery by miles and was easily stumped for seven.

Gavin Ewing gave the innings more momentum and at last Streak joined the effort. The skipper spanked a magnificent straight six off Manjural Islam Rana's bowling and did not look back. In the closing overs of the session Bangladesh were at last forced to change their field settings, dropping men back, as the Zimbabwe pair batted with considerable intent.

Streak went into the tea break on 46 and Ewing on 25. Rafique retained the best bowling figures of the innings with 4/90 in 48 overs. Tapash Baisya returned 3/101 in 30 overs.