Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
RAIN and REGRETS stole the spotlight on Day 3 of the first Test between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, with the Chevrons left ruing missed chances — and the heavens not helping either!
Only 44 overs of play were possible on a frustrating, stop-start day at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium after three hours were washed away due to a soggy outfield. By stumps, the hosts had stretched their lead to 112 runs, closing on 194/4 — all thanks to a gritty knock from skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who stood tall with an unbeaten 60.
But the real story? Zimbabwe had them on the ropes… and let them wriggle free!
It started brightly for the visitors when pace ace Blessing Muzarabani banged in a vicious short ball that had Mahmudul Hasan Joy flinching — and fending straight into the safe hands at first slip. Joy walked back for 33 off 65, extending his horror run to 17 innings without a 50.
Then came the blunder that could haunt Zimbabwe: Wessly Madhevere tempted Shanto into an edge… but keeper Nyasha Mayavo dropped a sitter! That’s two costly drops by Mayavo in the same match — and this one could be the game-changer.
Shanto regrouped, and together with Mominul Haque, stitched a crucial 65-run stand for the third wicket. Mominul, fresh off a 50 in the first innings, looked poised for another until Victor Nyauchi unleashed a mean short ball that cramped him. This time, Mayavo made no mistake, gobbling it up as Mominul fell for 47 off 86.
The Chevrons kept probing. Skipper Craig Ervine brought back Muzarabani in the dying overs before tea, and the big man delivered — firing nine consecutive dot balls to veteran Mushfiqur Rahim before nicking him off on the tenth! Textbook pressure.
But just as Zimbabwe sniffed a chance to blow the game wide open, bad light stopped play, halting their momentum.
With Bangladesh now 112 runs ahead and Shanto still standing firm, Zimbabwe must strike early on Day 4 if they hope to swing this match back their way.
Can the Chevrons turn pressure into dominance? Or will those dropped chances and lost overs come back to haunt them?
