An enterprising declaration by Paul Strang kept some life in Zimbabwe A's warm-up match against the Bangladeshi tourists, who finished the day at Bulawayo Athletic Club 137 runs ahead with nine second-innings wickets in hand. Possibly the individual highlight of the day was a mature 62 from Zimbabwe's 17-year-old schoolboy Hamilton Masakadza.

Bangladesh resumed on 289 for eight and the overnight pair gave Zimbabwe A quite a bit of trouble for 70 minutes before they were parted. Khaled Mashud made 82 before falling lbw to Nkala after a stand of 44, and then Mohammad Sharif (15) skied Mutendera into the covers, bringing the innings to an end at 333. Brighton Watambwa finished with the best figures for Zimbabwe A, taking four for 81 in 24 overs.

Habibul Hossain and Monjurul Ismal began with an impressive opening burst for Bangladesh, the latter giving Masakadza a very difficult first over. Then Masakadza settled down with Gavin Rennie and saw the home side safely, if laboriously, through to lunch, when the score was 15 without loss after 12 overs.

Masakadza opened up gradually after lunch, but Rennie had compiled a painstaking 11 before being trapped lbw by Sharif. With 93 in Zimbabwe's last Test against New Zealand and with no obvious replacement as opener, Rennie is still a likely candidate for next week's Test match.

Mark Vermeulen soon increased the scoring rate with some free hitting, often in the air, but was drawn forward by Sharif and caught at the wicket for 19. Masakadza, playing with great calm and control, reached his fifty but was beaten and bowled by a well-flighted delivery from Naimur Rahman for 62, and shortly afterwards Doug Marillier was caught at backward point off Habibul for seven. At tea the score was 136 for four and the balance was tilting slightly in favour of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh struck again soon in the final session as Wishart (30) drove Hasibul to mid on. Mluleki Nkala (23) and Tatenda Taibu (15) tried briefly to regain the initiative with some powerful strokes but Enamul Hoque teased both out with his left-arm spin.

Captain Paul Strang (22 not out) then played a typically cheeky, innovative, little innings, given good support by Henry Olonga (17), enjoying the giddy heights of number nine in the order. When Olonga was caught at extra cover Strang enterprisingly declared at 222 for eight, conceding a lead of 111. Hasibul, Sharif and Enamul took two wickets each.

Watambwa seized the wicket of Mehrab Hossain (7), caught sharply at slip by Strang who thus saved his teeth from serious damage. Bad light again ended play six minutes after the scheduled closing time, with the spectators shortchanged by 11 overs this time, five of them lost by Zimbabwe. Bangladesh finished on 26 for one, Javed Omar with 13 and Habibul Bashar two.

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