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Safety first, says Bashar

Bishwajit Roy
Captain Habi-bul Bashar was optimistically looking at securing a draw on
the final day of the second and final Test to give Bangladesh a maiden scries victory.
"If you consider the last three days and even the first session of the fourthday, 1 mustsaywearenowina good position. Jtwas fantastic in the end that we have achieved more than what we wanted," said a delighted Bashar during the postday briefing at the Bangabandhu National Stadiumyesterday,
Chasing a stiff winning target of 374, openers Nafees Iqbal (55) and Javed Omar (36) led the Tigers' brilliant fightbackbattingfor almost two sessions in a record 98-run openingstand.
But Bashar believed it was too early to think about winning the match.
"Definitely, it will be something special if we can complete a series whitewash but realistically speaking we'll be just as happy with a draw after struggling for the last three days. But cricket is a funny game and who knows another piece of history could made tomorrow,” remarked Ore country's top batsman with a wrysmilc.
"We should begin the fifth day without being overly confident. I believe the boys have learned their lessons from the first innings on how important each and every session is in a five-day contest. It only takes, one to change the outcome on the lastdayofaTeslmatch,"headded.
The 32-year-old Bangladesh skipper, however, issued a word of caution to his boys that it would not be easy to bat on the fifth day.
T "Although I think the pitch is still good but it is always difficult to bat on tire fifth day. We will plan our chase after assessing what happens in the first session.
Definitely, it is crucial that the openers occupy the crease for as long as they can in the morning and hopefully at least one of them goes on and makes a big hundred," he said.
Bashar also took the opportunity to praise his Zimbabwe counterpart Thtenda Thibu, who led his side by example with a maiden Test hun-
dred.
"He was simply outstanding and almost single-handedly made the situation difficult for us. While it was tricky to play strokes this track but Taibu made it look so easy once he got used to conditions." The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman hit the first century of the series with a magnificent 153off292 balls.
Bashar's only regret was that his two potent weapons left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique and fast bowler Mashrafce-Bin-Mortuza werefightingtobefit.
"Rafique is still struggling but the news for Mashrafee is a little better. Our team physio told us that he will recover soon. But one tiring is for sure both will able to bat if required," heinformed.
Wliile Bashar was understandably upbeat, the mood in the opposition camp was downcast.
"It was a very frustrating day for us. Hopefully, we can swing the momentum in our favour tomorrow morning if a only couple of wickets fall early," said Dion Ebrahim, vicc-captainoftheZimbabweside.
The most experienced player in the side believed that one dropped catch helped the home side to finish strongly.
"Missing one chance might prove the difference. But I won't take anything away from the two openers (Nafees and Javed) who showed real patience," headded.
SCOREBOARD
Scoreboard at slumps on the fourth day of tire second and final Test between Bangladesh andZimbabwe at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on Monday: ZIMBABWE: First innings 298 (Thibu 85 not out, Matsikenycri'51; Enamul7-95)
BANGLADESH: First innings 211 (Raflque 56, Omar 34: Hondo 6-59, Cremer2-32)
ZIMBABWE: Second innbigs (over-night203-6)
Matsikenyerilbwb Mashrafee 14
RogersIbwbMashrafee 20
Ebrahim lbwb Mashrafee 1 Masakadzac Saleh b Raflque I
Thylorb Enamul 7B
Thibuc Baisya b Enamul 153
ChigumburacMashudbAshraful 0 PanyangarastMashudbEnamu) 6
CremerlbwbEnamul 0
Hondo cAftab b Enamul 3
Mpofunotout I
Extras: (lb-2,nb-7) 9
Total: (All out in 103 overs) 286 Fall of wickets: 1 -30.2-36,3-37,4-37.
5-187,6-196,7-212,8-218.9-285 Bowler O M R W
Mashrafee 19.4 7 51 3
Baisya 13.2 2 50 0
Raflque 24 9 56 I
Enamul 37 8 105 5
Ashraful 9 2 22 1
BANGLADESH: Second innings (target374)
Omarnotout 36
Iqbal notout 55
Extras: (nb-7) 7
Total: (For no loss in 57 overs) 98 To bat: Bashar. Ashraful, Saleh. Aftab, Mashud, Raflque, Mashrafee. Baisya. Enamul
Bowler O M R W
Panyangara 6 0 15 0
Mpofu 13 5 IB 0
Hondo 11 4 16 0
Chlgumbura 9 3 16 0
Cremer 11 2 20 0
Matsikenyeri 3 0 9 0
Masakadza 3 0 3 0
Taylor 1 0 10