ZIMBABWE captain Brendan Taylor scored an unbeaten 105 before Bangladesh were restricted to 112-3 at the Harare Sports Club, still needing another 263 runs to win the one-off Test match.
Taylor declared his team’s second innings on 291 for five — after resuming at 92 for four — for an overall lead of 374 which left the tourists to face 30 overs before stumps on the fourth day.
Bangladesh’s openers Imrul Kayes (31) and Tamim Iqbal (43) began well, putting on 64 for the first wicket.
But Tamim, having hit seven boundaries, was dismissed when he left a ball from Chris Mpofu which jagged back and took off the bails.
Kayes was then caught behind by Tatenda Taibu off seamer Kyle Jarvis with the total on 87.
Shahriar Nafees, who made 50 in the first innings, was the third man out, clean bowled by Jarvis with the total on 102.
However, the experienced pair of Mohammad Ashraful — who scored 73 in the first innings, and reached 19 by stumps on Sunday — and Mushfiqur Rahim, with six, steadied the ship as Bangladesh suffered no further alarms ahead of Monday’s final day.
The Test, Zimbabwe’s first after a six-year, self-imposed exile, had swung decisively in Zimbabwe’s favour due to some dedicated and well-planned batting by Taylor, Taibu (59) and debutant Craig Ervine (35 not out).
Taylor, who had hit 71 in the first innings, moved carefully on from his overnight five runs.
“I wasn’t thinking about the hundred too much, I hit a couple of boundaries around the 70s and then I started to think I could get it,” said 25-year-old Taylor.
“We needed as much time as we wanted to get these guys out. This wicket will not change much on day five. We have got to fight hard for these wickets.”
He reached his half century in 117 balls while his next 50 came in only 53 balls as the thought of a declaration came firmly into mind.
It was his first Test hundred in 11 matches. He hit only nine fours, an indication of the defensively positive nature of his innings.
The slightly more flamboyant Taibu, ever looking for quick singles, was the perfect partner before he was out for 59, his 10th half-century in Tests.
Ervine showed much improvement and grew in stature with his newly-found confidence.
The day was hard work for the Bangladesh bowlers, mainly the spinners deployed by skipper Shakib Al Hassan.
The wicket was “still full of runs” according to ground superintendent Doug Higgins, and so it proved as the ball showed little turn and bounce.