Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza, Zimpapers Sports Hub
BANGLADESH head coach Phil Simmons admitted Zimbabwe thoroughly deserved their emphatic victory in the one-off Test, conceding that his side were second best in every department as the Chevrons produced a disciplined all-round performance to seal a memorable win.
Simmons said Bangladesh’s batting during the opening day’s middle session ultimately cost them the match, with the visitors failing to build a competitive first-innings total and leaving their bowlers with too little to defend.
“I think the first two hours we ruined the game, but between lunch and tea on the first day we lost the game, the way we batted in that period,” said Simmons.
“I think a little more dedication into the batting at that point there could have seen us put on a better show in this game. But we didn’t play well with the bat.”
The Chevrons capitalised on that early advantage, producing composed batting performances before their bowlers dismantled Bangladesh’s batting line-up to wrap up a convincing victory.
Simmons acknowledged that Zimbabwe simply adapted better to the conditions and executed the basics of Test cricket more effectively.
“I think just the fact that they batted better than us. They played properly on the wicket. That happens when you are at home because you know your conditions, so you generally bat better in your conditions,” he said.
“Overall, they had a better game than us.”
The former Zimbabwe coach, who guided the Chevrons between 2004 and 2005, also praised the hosts’ professionalism and patience throughout the contest.
“They played professionally. They bowled in the right areas more often than we did. The batsmen showed their patience and scored when it was necessary,” he said.
“I think they did the right things for Test cricket and the way they played the match showed us that this is the way we have got to play when we come out of Bangladesh.”
Simmons also reserved praise for Newman Nyamhuri, saying the left arm bowler’s energetic spell reflected the commitment shown by the home side.
“There was a lot of energy. He ran in and put all he had into his bowling. I think that’s all you ask for from players when they go out there, so I think he did what was asked of him,” he said.
Despite suffering a heavy defeat, Simmons insisted Bangladesh had not lost confidence, pointing to their strong run of results before arriving in Zimbabwe.
“There is still a lot of confidence even though we have lost the match. I think we won something like five Test matches straight, so there’s a lot of confidence there,” he said.
“We’ve been batting really well, so one Test match doesn’t change how much confidence we have. We take the fact that we lost the Test because we didn’t do the right things and we move on from there. We have learned something from it.”
Looking ahead to the One-Day International series scheduled to start on Monday, Simmons said Bangladesh’s biggest lesson was the importance of building substantial first-innings totals.
“Our immediate takeaway is that we have got to put runs on the board because if you don’t bat properly and have runs on the board, then the bowlers have nothing to work with,” he said.
“We have got to make sure that we understand how to bat on these wickets. It’s a little bit different from where we come from, so we have got to understand how to score on these wickets.”
