Sports DEsk:

Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad struck his fifth Test hundred while No 10 batsman Taskin Ahmed hit his maiden fifty in the longer version as the Tigers posted 404 runs for the loss of eight wickets at lunch.

Bangladesh were playing in day two of their lone Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club Thursday.

Mahmudullah was unbeaten on 112 while Taskin was not out on 52.

Mahmudullah smashed the ton making a strong statement on his return to the Test squad following a 17-month forced exile.

The right-handed hammered 11 fours and a six in his 215-ball knock, while the left-handed Taskin blasted eight boundaries in his 89-ball innings, as the Zimbabwe bowlers toiled without success in the morning session that yielded 110 runs in 24 overs.

The unbroken ninth wicket partnership added 134 quickfire runs to take Bangladesh past the 400-mark after resuming on their overnight tally of 294/8.

Mahmudullah was the last-minute inclusion to the Tigers’ previously announced 17-member Test squad for the Zimbabwe tour. The 35-year-old right-hander was dropped from the Test squad due to ‘poor performance’ back in February 2020, and was only added to the Test squad for the Zimbabwe tour just to lend some experience to the side if senior players like Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim miss out due to their injuries.