adminDHAKA. — Taijul Islam’s strategy was simple and his execution was ruthless enough to give him the best bowling figures in Bangladesh history yesterday.
His 8 for 39 should have heralded a dominant victory, but familiar failings were exposed in the batting and Taijul found himself in the middle again, at No. 9, striking the winning boundary to overhaul a target of 101.
Whatever joy Bangladesh had earned from a disciplined bowling performance evaporated when their top three bagged ducks — an event that has happened only twice before in Tests — and the score read 0 for 3.
Zimbabwe took a punt and gave Elton Chigumbura the new ball, hoping to exploit a two-paced surface and gloomy overhead conditions, and he delivered.
All of his four wickets were timely and furthered very real hopes of an unlikely victory.
The hosts were 82 for 7, battling disconcerting bounce, but Mushfiqur Rahim knew the target was small enough to scrape across.
As calm as he kept himself, he also ensured Taijul did not feel the immense pressure Zimbabwe’s bowlers and their close-in fielders were creating and took Bangladesh home to break a 12-match losing streak across all formats of cricket.
It was also their first win against a Full Member in 2014, the only other victories in the year having come in T20 internationals against Nepal and Afghanistan. Although they haven’t had many matches on their docket recently, a newish Zimbabwe side has showed admirable fight.
They shocked Australia during a home tri-series in August, caused a South Africa collapse two days earlier and benefited from the same scrappy, collective effort to have Bangladesh sweating. Bangladesh never looked sure of themselves in the chase.
Bounce and seam undid Tamim Iqbal, driving on the up cost Mominul Haque and Shamsur Rahman dragged a wide Tinashe Panyangara delivery onto his stumps.
Further chances were created when Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan were new at the crease. Both players left their bats hanging outside off and were reprieved at gully in the space of eight balls. The offender, John Nyumbu, was whisked away to a different part of the ground and bowled only one over. Brendan Taylor preferred using his quicks and as the new ball’s shine began wearing off, the batsmen began settling. So Shakib was battered with a few short balls.
With just enough uncertainty creeping back into the batsman’s game, Tendai Chatara jerked a back of a length delivery away to claim Shakib’s outside edge and Nyumbu displayed better catching skills at second slip and the score limped to 46 for 4.— Cricinfo.
Online Reporter