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 fifth overseas Test victory, which came after they completed their highest successful chasein the fourth innings. It was also their first win in the last 11 Tests and with this one, each of their last three wins have come away from home.
Blessing Muzarabani was the architect of the victory with a nine-wicket match haul, but it needed Wessley Madheve and No. 9 Richard Ngarava to push Zimbabwe over the line after they collapsed while needing less than 50 runs in their chase. It was Mehidy Hasan Miraz who orchestrated a collapse when he picked up his second five-wicket haul in the Test. He took his 200th Test wicket on the way to a ten-for, but it was in vain. Madhevere reverse-swept him to the boundary to get Zimbabwe to their 174-run target.
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 convinced captain Shanto to take the review, Ultra-Edge showed a spike and Ervine walked off for ten. 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. He struck a big six down the ground soon after he arrived at the crease, before slamming him past mid-off for a four. 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.
After defending his first two balls, 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.
The Test win will, however, be most remembered for Muzarabani’s bowling excellence. He has now taken five-wicket hauls in his last three Tests, which has helped him equal Heath Streak’s record for the fastest to 50 Test wickets for Zimbabwe. His match figures of 9 for 122 are the best by a Zimbabwean in Bangladesh. Muzarabani also found great support at the other end with left-arm quick Ngarava, quick Victor Nyauchi and left-arm spinner Masakadza taking the remaining four wickets.
Rain gave Bangladesh a bit of reprieve as the fourth day began 75 minutes late. Zimbabwe, though, attacked from the get-go, taking three wickets in the first 5.3 overs of the morning session. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 255, having lost 6 for 62 on the day.
Muzarabani struck with the second ball of the day, dismissing Shanto on the pull. Nyauchi dived forward at fine leg to catch the top edge, ending Shanto’s innings at 60 off 105 balls. Mehidy followed his captain back to the pavilion soon after, edging Muzarabani to gully. Bennett took a simple catch as Muzarabani completed his five-for. Ngrava got into the act from the other end, removing Taijul in the next over.
Hasan Mahmud’s rearguard action – 12 off 58 balls – stemmed the batting collapse. He added 35 runs for the eighth wicket with Jaker Ali, before holing out to mid-off where Muzarabani took an easy catch. Khaled Ahmed gave Ervine a catch next ball, as Masakadza again proved lethal for the Bangladesh tail.
Muzarabani completed Zimbabwe’s dominant morning with Jaker’s wicket, when he top-edged a slog to deep midwicket. Jaker had been farming the strike for the previous hour, before opening up with just one wicket left. He had hit one six among his five boundaries and was eventually out for 58 off 111 balls.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 273 in 80.2 overs (Sean Williams 59, Brian Bennett 57, Mehidy hasan Miraz 5-52) and 174 for 7 in 50.1 overs (Brian Bennett 54, Ben Curran 44, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5-50) beat Bangladesh 191 in 61 overs (Mominul Haque 56, Najmul Hossain Shanto 40; Wellington Masakadza 3-21, Blessing Muzarabani 3-50) and 255in 79.2 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 60, Jaker Ali 58, Mominul Haque 47; Blessing Muzarabani 6-72) by three wickets
[Cricinfo]
