Live Cricket Score of Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, 3rd Test, Day 3 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium

Zimbabwe's top order came good to put up a strong reply to Bangladesh's huge first innings total of 503 on the second day of the third and final Test in Chittagong. Opener Sikandar Raza remained unbeaten on 54 and Hamilton Masakadza was on 51 as the tourists reached 113-1 by stumps, still trailing by 390 runs with nine wickets in hand. The pair added 104 for the unbroken second wicket after opener Brian Chari was caught behind off Rubel Hossain without scoring.

Rubel had earlier shone with the bat, making an entertaining 45 off 44 balls to help Bangladesh post their highest total against Zimbabwe, surpassing the 488 in Chittagong in 2005. After nine wickets had fallen for 452 runs, Rubel smashed four sixes and two boundaries during a last-wicket stand of 51 with Jubair Hossain. The hosts are hoping to sweep the series 3-0 after winning the first two Tests in Dhaka and Khulna.

Sikandar Raza and Hamilton Masakadza continued batting in a solid manner in the first session on Day 3 as they kept the scorecard ticking by scoring at a good rate. They helped Zimbabwe past the 150-mark in quick time before extending the partnership past. This was Zimbabwe's best partnership for any wicket against Bangladesh, surpassing the 150-run partnership between Brendan Taylor and Tatenda Taibu in 2005.

The partnership came to an end when Shafiul Islam accounted for Masakadza in the 44th over. It was a length delivery that nipped back in sharply and the opening batsman, who tried to flick it off the back-foot, missed making any contact and was caught in front to depart on 81. Few overs later, Zimbabwe captain, Brendan Taylor made his way back on 1, giving Jubair Hossain a wicket. Taylor was too early into the shot, the ball took the outside half of the bat and lobbed towards mid-off where Taijul ran to his left and took a well judged catch.

Zimbabwe were in more trouble when Jubair struck for the second time in the same over to dismiss Raza. The batsman poked at a delivery outside-off and ended up getting an outside edge that travelled to Mahmudullah, who was the lone slip fielder. Raza's innings came to an end at 82, leaving Zimbabwe at 172/4.

Regis Chakabva and Craig Ervine did not hesitate from playing their shots as they scored at a good rate to help Zimbabwe forward. There was a close shout for leg-before in the 55th over when Chakabva did not offer any shot to Jubair. Bangladesh opted for the review but the decision went in favour of the batsman. The 5th wicket pair took ZImbabwe to 200/4 at lunch, still trailing by 303 runs.

Zimbabwe started the session well as Sikandar Raza and Hamilton Masakadza resumed their solid partnership and ensured that the visitors did not lose any wickets in the first hour. However, it was completely Bangladesh's session after that. Shafiul delivered the first breakthrough of the day by getting rid of Masakadza while Jubair's double strike - when he removed Taylor and Raza in the same over - left Zimbabwe in a lot of trouble. With a big deficit lying ahead of them, the task seems even more uphill for the visiting side. Unless the middle-order shows some application, Zimbabwe are likely to concede a big first innings lead.

Jubair struck after the break to get rid of Craig Ervine for 14. The batsman, in his attempt to play a sweep shot, missed a full-toss and the ball sneaked through to hit the base of leg stump.

Chakabva and Elton Chigumbura put on good stand to help their side recover. Chakabva was watchful while Chigumbura scored at a good rate as they added a half-century stand to help Zimbabwe closer to avoiding the follow-on. Chigumbura had a lucky break in the 73rd over, dropped at first slip when he was on 35. Chakabva then got to his 2nd Test fifty by scoring three off Taijul Islam in the in the 77th over.

With a single off Taijul in the 79th over, Chigumbura brought up his 4th Test fifty. In the 82nd over, Zimbabwe crossed the 300-mark following which Chigumbura helped Zimbabwe avoid the follow-on with a six off Taijul in the 83rd over, that brought the deficit below 200.

Bangladesh opted for the second new ball in the 85th over and two overs later, Shafiul struck to dismiss Chakabva (65) and end a stand worth 113 runs. It was a good length delivery nipping back into the right-hander and Chakabva, who leant forward and tried to defend missed it to be caught plumb in front.

Zimbabwe went into tea at 330/6, still trailing by 173 runs with Chigumbura unbeaten on 73. The visitors scored 130 runs for the loss of two wickets in the second session. Chakabva and Chigumbura steadied the innings with a 113-run stand for the sixth wicket. Both got to their respective fifties and helped Zimbabwe avoid the follow-on. Chakabva fell to Shafiul just a couple of overs before tea but Chigumbura looked set for a big score.

Richmond Mutumbami survived a close leg-before shout in the 94th over when Shakib Al Hasan rapped him on the pads. The onfield umpire ruled in favour of the batsman, following which the hosts opted for the review. However, replays reckoned that it was the umpire's call, which meant that Mutumbami could continue to bat. Meanwhile, Chigumbura entered the 80s and was looking good for a three-figure score.

Mutumbami and S Masakadza fell in consecutive overs, leaving Zimbabwe eight down. Shakib picked up his first wicket by trapping Mutumbami in front in the 99th over while Masakadza became Taijul's first scalp in the following over when he hit one straight to Mahmudullah at short cover while trying to drive on the up.

Chigumbura, who was in search of his maiden Test hundred, fell 12 short of it when he got out to Jubair in the 104th over, giving the bowler his 4th wicket. Looking to drive away from the body, the batsman got an outside edge and the ball travelled straight to the hands of Imrul Kayes at first slip.

Jubair finished with his maiden five-wicket haul when he dismissed Mushangwe in the 106th over, bowling out Zimbabwe for 374. The hosts took a 129-run lead wih Jubair ending up with figures of 5/96.

After losing the first wicket early, fine fifties from Hamilton Masakadza and Sikandar Raza helped Zimbabwe steady their innings. Bangladesh bounced back by picking up three quick wickets just before lunch. However, Chakabva and Chigumbura combined well in the second session to form a century partnership and help Zimbabwe avoid the follow-on.

The problem for the visitors was that they kept losing wickets in clusters and hence were unable to go past Bangladesh's score. All will depend on how Brendan Taylor uses his pacers now as Bangladesh will play 8 overs before close of play.

Bangladesh negotiated the 8 overs without losing any wicket. Tamim and Kayes did well to remain unbeaten and would want to carry on from where they left off in the first innings. Bangladesh lead by 152 runs and would look to bat positively on Day 4 and set Zimbabwe a big target. The visitors, on the other hand, need quick wickets to make a comeback in the match.