adminhandful of loyal and die-hard supporters were at the ground to witness Zimbabwe’s celebrations as they wrapped up proceedings shortly after lunch on the fifth and final day.
The tourists were reasonably placed at 112-3 overnight and even though most people expected them to go for the outright win, very few expected five wickets to fall in the morning session.
In truth, the bowlers were outstanding as they tempted the Bangladeshis into sparring at balls outside the off stump.
Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori, Chris Mpofu and Elton Chigumbura hunted together in packs with Vitory and Chigumbura looking for movement, and Jarvis and Mpofu bowling back of a length forcing the batsmen in to playing shots that were never on.
There will be many critics waiting to say negative remarks like Bangladesh never applied themselves and gave their wickets away especially in their second innings and so Zimbabwe were made to look a much better side.
If such remarks were to be made it wouldn’t be the first time that such untrue statements were made.
When Zimbabwe won their first Test match against Pakistan back in February of 1995, people were quick to say that it was a one-off and lucky five days that the team had. The best advice for such stupidity would be to treat it like a batsman facing a bouncer.
Drop the gloves and sway out of the way and treat it with all the contempt it deserves because for four of the five days, Zimbabwe were in complete control of the test match.
If one were to ask the question as to who in the Zimbabwe side had a poor Test match the answer honestly would be nobody.
Those who didn’t contribute in the first innings, did so in the second and those who may have missed out in the second innings did their bit in the first.
Zimbabwe have possibly found 2 reliable openers in Vusi Sibanda and Tino Mawoyo with partnerships of 102 and 69 respectivly, though nothing is cast in stone which makes Test cricket and the general game of cricket such a wonderful game.
The seamers bowled to a definite plan which worked against a side who clearly have difficulties coping against pace and well directed short pitched bowling.
Though when Pakistan play Zimbabwe in the Test match in Bulawayo, one hopes that the odd short and wide delivery which was still evident from time to time will be less noticeable as the likes of
Pakistan will gleefully accept anything with width.
But how can one be critical when a team who have been in the Test wilderness for six years comes back in to the Test arena and displays such a wonderful all round performence with both bat and ball?
This was a result of hard work paying off as Alan Butcher, Heath Streak and Grant Flower who can only be described as a revelation and much needed addition to the coaching set-up not only bought the best out of the players from a result point of view, but also instilled self belief and a certain amount of discipline which up to a short time ago had been lacking.
Brendan Taylor seemed cool and calm as he normally does when making on-field decisions though he may want to be careful in the future with the duration of his front line seamers as to the spells they bowl.
Online Reporter