Online Reporter
Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by three wickets in an exciting finish on the fourth day of the first Test in Sylhet to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.
It was Zimbabwe’s fourth overseas Test victory, which came after they completed their highest successful chase in the fourth innings.
Incidentally, Zimbabwe’s previous overseas Test win, in 2018, also came in Sylhet.
Blessing Muzarabani was the architect of the victory with a nine-wicket match haul, but it needed Wessly Madhevere and No. 9 Richard Ngarava to push Zimbabwe over the line after they collapsed while needing less than 50 runs in their chase.
Openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran got Zimbabwe off to a rollicking start with a 95-run stand in just 21 overs.
Curran, who struck seven fours in his 44 off 75 balls, was out to Mehidy, skying him to mid-off.
No. 3 batter Nick Welch fell lbw to Taijul Islam for 10, before Sean Williams misread the bounce against Mehidy in the 31st over.
He top-edged a simple catch to Najmul Hossain Shanto at cover for 9. That’s when trouble started, at 127 for 3.
In the next over, Bennett was done in by the spin and was caught by Mushfiqur Rahim at deep mid-on. The big shot he attempted was a risky move against Mehidy in that situation as he was batting well on 54. He struck seven fours and a six in his 81-ball stay.
Taijul next struck when he had Craig Ervine caught behind off a delivery that was sliding down the leg side.
Mehidy struck first ball next over when he clean bowled Nyasha Mayavo for 1. Zimbabwe were now 145 for 6.
Wellington Masakadza, however, settled Zimbabwe’s nerves with boundaries in consecutive overs from Taijul.But his innings was ended by a Mehidy beauty – pitching on a length around off stump from around the wicket and turning away ever so slightly to bowl him for 12.
Ngarava slammed Mehidy for a boundary over wide mid-on to reduce the target to nine runs. Madhevere hit Taijul for another four off the first ball of the next over. He repeated the dose against Mehidy before sealing the win that would go into Zimbabwe cricket folklore.
Cricinfo/Zimpapers Sports Hub
