After suffering a 3-0 defeat in the ODI series against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe’s prospects appeared dim as they entered the first Test match. However, they not only put up a strong fight against the higher-ranked home team but also achieved a comprehensive away Test victory, marking their first in 17 years.
Winning the toss, Zimbabwe chose to bat, with captain and opener Hamilton Masakadza contributing a valuable half-century. Following Masakadza’s dismissal, the Man of the Match, Sean Williams, played a crucial role in steadying the innings, scoring 88 runs. Williams’ innings ensured that Zimbabwe posted a total exceeding 200, and Peter Moor, who remained unbeaten in the first innings, also reached a half-century, helping his team accumulate a total of 282 runs.
Taijul Islam emerged as Bangladesh’s top bowler in the first innings, claiming six wickets. During the Bangladeshi chase, they faced a disastrous start, losing four wickets for a mere 19 runs. Although Mushfiqur Rahim and Ariful Haque attempted to stabilize the innings with scores of 31 and 41, consistent wicket falls limited Bangladesh to a paltry 143 runs in the first innings.
In contrast to Zimbabwe’s first innings, none of their batsmen managed to reach a half-century in the second innings, as Bangladeshi spinners took control. Taijul Islam secured his second five-wicket haul of the match, while Mehidy Hasan and Nazmul Islam contributed with three and two wickets, respectively. The spinners’ impressive performance restricted Zimbabwe to a sub-200 total in the second innings. Overall, Zimbabwe’s victory was a testament to their resilience and skill, marking a significant milestone in their Test cricket history.
Sikandar Raza spell turned it around for Zimbabwe
In their pursuit of a 321-run target, Bangladesh’s opening partnership provided a promising start, reaching 50 runs. However, Sikander Raza’s performance resulted in the dismissal of three of Bangladesh’s top four batsmen, while Brandon Mavuta and Wellington Masakadza took care of the lower order, securing four and two wickets, respectively.
Consequently, Bangladesh was bowled out for a mere 169 runs, resulting in a resounding 151-run victory for Zimbabwe. This win marked Zimbabwe’s first Test victory since September 2013 when they defeated Pakistan in Harare, and their first away Test win since November 2001 when they triumphed over Bangladesh in Chittagong.
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