Taylor heroics in vain as Bangladesh level series

Star batsman hits century but hosts prevail in Dhaka

Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor fought valiantly with his second century of the Test but Bangladesh won the final match by 218 runs to end the series at 1-1 yesterday.

Needing a mammoth 443 to win, Zimbabwe were bowled out in the second session on the fifth day in Dhaka with Taylor remaining unbeaten on 106.

Taylor’s knock of patience and controlled aggression came from 167 balls and featured ten fours. He had hit 110 in Zimbabwe’s first essay of 304. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan was the wrecker-inchief on the final day as he returned figures of 5-38 — his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests.

Mehidy denied Zimbabwe any chance of repeating their clinical performance of the first match in Sylhet that they won by 151 runs.

Taijul Islam added two more wickets to his five in the first innings and finished the series with a career best haul of 18 scalps in two matches. He was named the player of the series.

The home side declared the first innings on 522 for seven with Mushfiqur Rahim hitting an unbeaten 219 — the first time a wicketkeeper hit two double tons in Test cricket.