Mominul Haque (left) scored his fourth Test century as Bangladesh set Zimbabwe 449 to win in Chittagong
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Bangladesh Stay In The Driving Seat
Bangladesh 503 & 319-5 dec. (Mominul 131no) v
Zimbabwe 374 & 71-1
Third Test, Chittagong, day four
Scorecard
Bangladesh kept themselves on course for a 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe after setting their visitors a target of 449 to win the third and final Test on day four in Chittagong.
Mominul Haque stroked 131 not out as Bangladesh declared their second innings on 319 for five.
Zimbabwe made a good start to their imposing task of either setting a new Test record or batting for the rest of the match and they closed the day on 71 for one.
Bangladesh resumed the day on 23 without loss and after they lost Imrul Kayes for 15, Tamim Iqbal (65) and Mominul put on 113 for the second wicket.
Iqbal fell to Natsai Mushangwe and while Mahmudullah (30), Shakib Al Hasan (17) and Mushfiqur Rahim (46 in 30 balls) hurried the innings along, Mominul allowed them that freedom with his fourth Test century.
When the declaration came, he had faced 189 balls and hit 13 fours and Shuvagata Hom was unbeaten on four.
Tinashe Panyangara finished with two for 31, Sikandar Raza one for 114 and Mushangwe two for 77.
Set an enormous target, Zimbabwe lasted just 11 balls before losing the wicket of Brian Chari, who completed a miserable Test when he was trapped in front by Rubel Hossain for his second duck of the game.
However, Raza struck a run-a-ball 43 and Hamilton Masakadza made 26 in 66 deliveries to give Zimbabwe some hope of still taking the game to Bangladesh on the final day.
While reaching their victory target remains unlikely - they need another 378 runs to do so - with nine wickets in hand, salvaging a draw is not out of the question even though a Bangladesh win remains the most likely outcome.
© Cricket World 2014
