After a dismal batting performance in the Sylhet Test, Bangladesh’s bowlers couldn’t put Zimbabwe’s batters under any pressure late in the day.
“We want to walk a new path,” said Najmul Hossain Shanto the day before the match began. But once on the pitch, it looked like the same old Bangladesh. Another poor display with the bat, and they found themselves under pressure right from the start.
At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, light rain appeared after lunch on Sunday. But Bangladesh’s wickets fell faster than the raindrops. A series of poor shot selections saw the hosts bowled out for just 191.
The pitch was good, which is why Shanto opted to bat first after winning the toss. His plan was to put up a big total and then apply pressure on Zimbabwe. But the opposite happened. Zimbabwe dismissed Bangladesh and then cruised to 67 without loss by stumps.
This kind of batting collapse isn’t new for Bangladesh. This was the fourth straight match where they failed to cross 200 after choosing to bat first. In their last 11 home innings, they’ve managed to cross 200 just twice.
If Bangladesh wanted a perfect opponent to break their cycle of failures, a struggling Zimbabwe side should’ve been ideal. But instead, it’s Zimbabwe who took the upper hand, advancing in their own redemption mission.
It’s not like Richard Ngarava or Blessing Muzarabani produced extraordinary spells. Rather, it was Bangladesh’s careless batting that led to one dismissal after another—Shadman Islam, Shanto, and Mushfiqur Rahim among the guilty.
On a green-tinged surface, Shadman and Mahmudul Hasan Joy had a steady start, negotiating the first half-hour well. Muzarabani bowled a few good deliveries, but the openers held their ground.
Victor Nyauchi came on in the 9th over and struck in his first over. Shadman edged one outside off to the slip cordon, ending the opening stand at 31. It’s now been 12 innings without a 50-run opening partnership for Bangladesh.
In Nyauchi’s next over, Joy found himself in two minds against a delivery outside off and edged behind. Neither opener could reach 15.
The situation could’ve worsened. Craig Ervine brought back Muzarabani, whose rising delivery brushed Mominul Haque’s gloves. But wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo couldn’t hold on. Mominul survived on zero.
Shanto was also shaky early on but settled after a few overs, playing some crisp boundaries. With Mominul, he made sure no further damage occurred in that session.
After the lunch break, drizzle delayed the second session by 30 minutes. But once play resumed, Bangladesh started to slip.
Before the team total reached 100, Shanto fell trying to cut a rising delivery from Muzarabani, caught at point. Just a day earlier, he admitted to getting out frequently in the 30s and 40s and vowed to improve. But he couldn’t walk the talk—his innings ended at 40 from six boundaries.
Shanto’s dismissal broke the highest stand of the innings—66 runs.
Then came a flurry of wickets. Mushfiqur Rahim tried to pull Wellington Masakadza but only managed to find short midwicket. His slow walk back to the pavilion reflected his frustration, perhaps realizing how poor the shot was. The veteran looked like he didn’t want to leave the field.
Mominul, who had looked shaky from the start, edged a boundary to reach near fifty. He also hit the innings’ only six off Muzarabani. But he couldn’t last long either. Attempting a big shot off a full delivery from Masakadza, he gave a catch to short midwicket and departed for 56.
Muzarabani then rattled Mehidy Hasan Miraz with a sharp bouncer. Before tea, Taijul Islam edged one outside leg stump and was caught behind. Bangladesh lost five wickets for just 70 runs in the second session.
In the final session, Zakir Ali and Hasan Mahmud offered brief resistance with a 41-run stand for the eighth wicket. Muzarabani returned with a peach to bowl Hasan for 19.
Left with no support, Zakir tried to hit out and holed a catch to short cover. He scored 28 off 59 balls. Wesley Madhevere ended the innings by bowling Nahid Rana.
Zimbabwe began their innings confidently. Openers Bennett and Curran looked solid, and though the Bangladeshi bowlers—Hasan, Nahid, and Khaled Ahmed—delivered some good balls, they lacked consistency.
Zimbabwe reached 50 in the 11th over and looked in control until bad light stopped play. Bennett was unbeaten on 40, while Curran will resume Day 2 on 17.
Score Summary
Bangladesh 1st innings: 191 in 61 overs
- Joy 14, Shadman 12, Mominul 56, Shanto 40, Mushfiqur 4, Zakir 28, Miraz 1, Taijul 3, Hasan 19, Khaled 4*, Nahid 0;
Muzarabani 3/50, Masakadza 3/21, Nyauchi 2/74, Madhevere 2/2
Zimbabwe 1st innings: 67/0 in 14.1 overs
- Bennett 40*, Curran 17*; Hasan 0/16, Nahid 0/21, Khaled 0/11, Miraz 0/10
