Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 5-60 to put Bangladesh in control against Zimbabwe on the first day of the second test Monday. Sean Williams and Nick Welch batted resolutely as Zimbabwe looked to be on top of Bangladesh for much of the day until Taijul triggered a sensational collapse that saw the visitors lose seven wickets for 55 runs. Taijul eventually finished with his 16th five-for in test cricket as Zimbabwe reached 227-9 at stumps. Sean Williams made a team-high 67 while Welch hit 54 for his second fifty in as many tests.

They put on 90 runs for the third wicket to help Zimbabwe dominate the first two sessions. Openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran were solid against the pacers after their captain Craig Ervine chose to bat first. They put on 41 runs before pacer Tanzim Hasan gave Bangladesh a breakthrough in the 11th over by dismissing Bennett for 21 for his debut wicket. Bennet, who scored half-centuries in both innings of the first test, edged a three-quarter length delivery that carried extra bounce to baffle him. Zimbabwe's batters then struggled against spin, with the exception of Welch, who hit both Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam for sixes.