Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 143 runs yesterday, ending their long losing streak in Test cricket after rebounding from a heavy defeat in the first match to level the short series with a first victory in four years.
Bangladesh’s last win came in a 2-0 whitewash over the West Indies in 2009 and the country had only won three Tests in more than a decade of playing the five-day format before the win at Harare Sports Club. The other success was also against Zimbabwe in 2005.
Ziaur Rahman took four for 63 on debut and spinner Shakib Al Hasan three for 52 for the tourists as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 257 in their second innings on the final day of the second Test — well short of the target of 401 they had been set by dominant Bangladesh.
Photo: AFP
ONLY RESISTANCE
Hamilton Masakadza was 111 not out after battering four sixes for Zimbabwe’s only meaningful resistance in the second innings, but Bangladesh still closed out the big win to end a run of nine straight series losses.
Bangladesh’s long-awaited success was built on their first innings of 391 after being put in to bat by Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim responded with scores of 60 and 93 to win the man of the match award, while Shakib and Nasir Hossain also made two half-centuries to keep the tourists in control throughout.
Seamer Robiul Islam had five for 85 in Zimbabwe’s first innings of 282, while Rahman led the attack in the second as Zimbabwe missed out on the chance to win their first series in five and their first multi-Test series since winning in Bangladesh in 2004.
Bangladesh wrapped up the morale-boosting win when Shakib had Kyle Jarvis trapped leg before wicket for 7.
Masakadza was unbeaten, but his third Test century — off 252 balls with 11 fours and four sixes — was not nearly enough as only one other Zimbabwe batsman made a half-century in the match, Elton Chigumbura’s 86 in the first innings.
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