Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE put on a superb display to dominate day one of their Test match against Bangladesh at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, Bangladesh yesterday.
The Chevrons took early charge of the match as they bowled out the hosts for just 191 runs and at stumps, were on 67/0, trailing by 124 runs with Brian Bennett and Ben Curran scoring effortlessly to see out the 14.1 overs.
Zimbabwe were sent in to field first. Wellington Masakadza and Blessing Muzarabani led the charge with three wickets each while Victor Nyauchi and Wessly Madhevere provided impressive support with their two wickets apiece.
Nyauchi struck twice for Zimbabwe inside 11 overs, dismissing the Tigers’ openers, Shadman Islam (12) and Mahmudul Hasan Joy (14). The two early strikes left the hosts on 32/2.
Bangladesh managed to rebuild with a 66-run third wicket partnership between Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque before the former was caught off a Muzarabani delivery for 40 runs off 69 balls.
The fourth wicket to fall was Mishfiqur Rahim who was caught off a Masakadza delivery for four runs. Masakadza would go on to get his second of the innings, getting Haque — who was earlier dropped for a duck — caught for 56 runs off 105 balls.
Moments later, Muzarabani would get his second wicket of the innings as he had Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught behind for just one run, leaving the hosts in trouble on 137/6 after 43.1 overs. Bangladesh could only add nine runs to the board before another wicket fell, Masakadza getting his third, Taijul Islam caught behind for three runs.
Hasan Mahmud chipped in with 19 runs at the back end of Bangladesh’s innings before he was bowled by Muzarabani.
Madhevere picked up the last two wickets of the innings, getting Jaker Ali caught for 28 runs and bowling Nahid Rana for a four-ball duck.
Bangladesh have now been bowled out for less than 200 runs for the sixth time in their last 10 Test innings.
Zimbabwe went on to finish the day on a good note with Bennett and Curran scoring effortlessly. Bennett will resume day two on 40 runs off 37 balls, while Curran is on 17 runs off 49 deliveries.
Play resumes at 6AM.
@brandon_malvin
