Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
RAIN had a major say on the third day of the first Test match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Three hours of play in the morning were lost due to wet outfield and just 44 overs were played on the day with the hosts, who resumed on 57/1, adding 137 runs to their total while losing three wickets.
At the time that play was called off due to bad light, Bangladesh were on 194/4, leading by 112 runs. Their skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, who went unbeaten on 60, reached his half-century during a rearguard fifth-wicket partnership with Jaker Ali.
It was Blessing Muzarabani who rocked Bangladesh within the first hour after play started on the third afternoon. Muzarabani tested Mahmudul Hasan Joy with the short ball a few times, before the Bangladesh opener fended one to first slip.
Joy made 33 off 65 balls with six boundaries, stretching his lean run of form. He has now played 17 innings without a half-century, the last one coming in Sylhet in November 2023.
Meanwhile, Shanto got the ball rolling with some confident shots, before he edged one off Wessly Madhevere when on 26. For the second time in the game though, wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo dropped a sitter.
The third-wicket stand between Shanto and Mominul Haque kept Bangladesh stable, but once again, it was the short ball that rocked Bangladesh. Victor Nyauchi got one to rear up at Mominul, who had little room to move out of the way once he had committed to it. Thankfully for Zimbabwe, though, Mayavo held on to the chance.
Shanto and Mominul had added 65 for the third wicket. Mominul made 47 off 86 balls to go with his half-century in the first innings.
Chevrons skipper Craig Ervine then brought back Muzarabani to bowl at Mushfiqur Rahim closer to the tea interval. He bowled nine dot balls in a row to Mushfiqur before finding the outside edge with the tenth delivery.
