The ball carried smoothly for the seam bowlers on a lively pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium but still, left-arm spinner Enamul Haque dominated the opening day's play of the three-day match between Bangladesh A and Zimbabwe A yesterday.

The Zimbabweans continued with their fragile batting show against slow left-arm bowling after capitulating in the just concluded five-match one-day series as Enamul figured 5-21 to wrap up the visitors' first innings for only 146 in 58.5 overs.

Two out-of-favour national pacemen Tapash Baisya and Mohammad Sharif shared the remaining wickets after the home side had put the visitors into bat.

The second string Tigers were 69-2 before bad light stopped play with skipper Tushar Imran (23), who spent the one-day series in the dressing room before being dropped for the last two games, and Rajin Saleh (12) at crease.

Young Test spinner Enamul, who is only considered by the selectors for longer-version cricket, is known for his variation in flight but he acquired significant turn yesterday to tear apart the Zimbabwean batting.

Selector Golam Nawsher Prince was delighted with the behaviour of the pitch at the new venue.

"Enamul has the ability to turn the ball on any surface. It was nice to see the seam bowlers getting assistance from the pitch. I think we should play more matches on this kind of lively wicket regularly," said the former national paceman.

Tapash set the tone for the hosts removing both the openers --Tinashe Hove (0) and Chamurorwa Chibhabha (22) -- with the scoreboard reading 29 and the southern African side never recovered from the early damage before eventually being bundled out just after tea.

Sharif carried his domestic form as the right-arm paceman bowled in good line and length to use the condition properly to take three wickets for 40 and his recent all-round performance at least gave the impression that he could be a competitor of Forhad Rezain the national side.

Left-hand bat Sean Williams top scored for Zimbabwe A, hitting eleven boundaries in his 63 off 95 balls, before being bowled by Enamul.

Tigers' Test opener Javed Omar made only 14 while Gazi Salahuddin (16) also struggled against the Zimbabweans seam attack. Anthony Ireland finally got rid of both the openers to give his side a bright start before Tushar and Rajin steadied the innings.

SCORES IN BRIEF

ZIMBABWE A: 146 all out in 58.5 overs (Hove 0, Chibahaba 22,

Matsikenyeri 7, Williams 63, Nkala 0, Chigumbura 1, Mawoyo 0, Garwe 19, Higgins 16, Cremer 5, Ireland 1 not out, extras 12; Tapash 2-30, Sharif 3-40, Enamul 5-21).

BANGLADESH A: 69-2 in 21 overs (Javed 14, Salahuddin 16, Rajin not out 12, Tushar 23 not out, extras 4; Ireland 2-10).