Dhaka, Bangladesh: Bangladesh reduced Zimbabwe to 76-2 Wednesday on the fourth day of the second test.
Zimbabwe still needs 367 runs or to survive a full day to win its first test series victory since 2011 after the hosts set an improbable target of 443 runs.
Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah was instrumental in leaving Zimbabwe a record chase, hitting his second century as the hosts declared the second innings on 224-6.
Mahmudullah, who completed his century in the last ball before the tea session, was not out on 101 and shared two important partnerships to take the side on the verge of winning the test and drawing the series.
Bangladesh lost the first test by 151 runs.
Despite a lead of 218 runs, dismissing Zimbabwe for 304 in its first innings on Day 3, Bangladesh decided not to enforce the follow-on. But Zimbabwe fast bowlers Kyle Jarvis (2-27) and Donald Tiripano (2-31) rocked the top order to leave the hosts at 25-4.
Jarvis swung the ball in admirable fashion to remove openers Imrul Kyaes (3) and Liton Das (9) in three deliveries in the fifth over of the day.
Tiripano, who shared the new ball in the absence of injured Tendai Chatara, was equally impressive, and Mominul Haque (1) and Mushfiqur Rahim (7), the centurion and the double centurion of the first innings, perished to loose shots.
With Zimbabwe raising the hopes to hit back, Mithun and Mahmudullah resisted further damage to keep the side on course for a sizeable lead.
The duo combined for a 118-run partnership for the fifth wicket to restore its dominance.
Offspinner Sikandar Raza removed Mithun for 67, his maiden fifty in his maiden test following zero in the first innings.
Left-arm spinner Sean Williams dismissed Ariful Haque (4) cheaply but Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan (27 not out) shared 73 off 70 balls in an unbroken seventh wicket partnership to set an improbable target for the visitors.
Zimbabwe's highest successful chase in the fourth innings is 162 against Pakistan in Peshawar in 1998.
The tourists made a decent start with skipper Hamilton Masakadza and Brian Chari sharing 68 runs.
Hasan (1-16) gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough after Masakadza spooned a catch at short-leg for 25.
Two overs later, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam (1-34) dismissed Brian Chari (43), who tried to paddle sweep against a turning delivery. Chari reviewed in vain.
Brendan Taylor (4) and Sean Williams (2) were batting before the fourth day's game came to an end.
Scoreboard
Bangladesh 1st innings
Liton Das c Brandon Mavuta b Kyle Jarvis 9
Imrul Kayes c Regis Chakabva b Kyle Jarvis 0
Mominul Haque c Brian Chari b Tendai Chatara 161
Mohammad Mithun c Brendan Taylor b Donald Tiripano 0
Mushfiqur Rahim Not Out 219
Taijul Islam c Regis Chakabva b Kyle Jarvis 4
Mahmudullah c Regis Chakabva b Kyle Jarvis 36
Ariful Haque c Brian Chari b Kyle Jarvis 4
Mehedi Hasan Not Out 68
Extras 9b 8lb 3nb 0pen 1w 21
Total (160.0 overs) 522 decl
Fall of Wickets: 1-13 Kayes, 2-16 Das, 3-26 Ali, 4-292 Haque, 5-299 Islam, 6-372 Mahmudullah, 7-378 Haque Did Not Bat : Rahman, Ahmed
Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex
Kyle Jarvis 28 6 71 5 2.54 1w 1nb
Tendai Chatara 22.2 12 34 1 1.52
Donald Tiripano 24.4 6 65 1 2.64 2nb
Sikandar Raza 22 1 111 0 5.05
Sean Williams 30 4 80 0 2.67
Brandon Mavuta 31 1 137 0 4.42
Hamilton Masakadza 2 0 7 0 3.50
Zimbabwe 1st innings
Hamilton Masakadza c Mehedi Hasan b Taijul Islam 14
Brian Chari c Mominul Haque b Mehedi Hasan 53
Donald Tiripano c Mehedi Hasan b Taijul Islam 8
Brendan Taylor c Taijul Islam b Mehedi Hasan 110
Sean Williams b Taijul Islam 11
Sikandar Raza b Taijul Islam 0
Peter Moor lbw Ariful Haque 83
Regis Chakabva c Mominul Haque b Taijul Islam 10
Brandon Mavuta c Ariful Haque b Mehedi Hasan 0
Kyle Jarvis Not Out 9
Extras 5b 1lb 0nb 0pen 0w 6
Total (105.3 overs) 304 all out
Fall of Wickets: 1-20 Masakadza, 2-40 Tiripano, 3-96 Chari, 4-129 Williams, 5-131 Butt, 6-270 Moor, 7-290 Taylor, 8-290 Mavuta, 9-304 Chakabva
Did Not Bat: Chatara
Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex
Mustafizur Rahman 21 8 58 0 2.76
Khaled Ahmed 18 7 48 0 2.67
Taijul Islam 40.3 10 107 5 2.64
Mehedi Hasan 20 3 61 3 3.05
Mahmudullah 2 0 14 0 7.00
Ariful Haque 4 2 10 1 2.50
Bangladesh 2nd innings
Liton Das b Kyle Jarvis 6
Imrul Kayes c Brandon Mavuta b Kyle Jarvis 3
Mominul Haque c Regis Chakabva b Donald Tiripano 1
Mohammad Mithun c Regis Chakabva b Sikandar Raza 67
Mushfiqur Rahim c Brandon Mavuta b Donald Tiripano 7
Mahmudullah Not Out 101
Ariful Haque b Sean Williams 5
Mehedi Hasan Not Out 27
Extras 5b 1lb 0nb 0pen 1w 7
Total (54.0 overs) 224 decl
Fall of Wickets: 1-9 Kayes, 2-10 Das, 3-10 Haque, 4-25 Rahim, 5-143 Ali, 6-151 Haque Did Not Bat : Islam, Rahman, Ahmed
Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex
Kyle Jarvis 11 2 27 2 2.45
Donald Tiripano 11 1 31 2 2.82
Sean Williams 16 2 69 1 4.31 1w
Sikandar Raza 7 0 39 1 5.57
Brandon Mavuta 9 0 52 0 5.78
Zimbabwe 2nd innings
Hamilton Masakadza c Mominul Haque b Mehedi Hasan 25
Brian Chari lbw Taijul Islam 43
Brendan Taylor Not Out 4
Sean Williams Not Out 2
Extras 1b 1lb 0nb 0pen 0w 2
Total (30.0 overs) 76-2
Fall of Wickets: 1-68 Masakadza, 2-70 Chari To Bat : Butt, Moor, Chakabva, Tiripano, Mavuta, Jarvis, Chatara
Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex
Mustafizur Rahman 3 1 2 0 0.67
Taijul Islam 13 2 34 1 2.62
Khaled Ahmed 4 1 15 0 3.75
Mehedi Hasan 7 2 16 1 2.29
Ariful Haque 3 1 7 0 2.33
