Zimbabwe finish the day at 227 for 9 after a strong start
In a dramatic turn of events, Zimbabwe’s promising innings was derailed by Taijul Islam’s brilliant five-wicket haul on the opening day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram. Zimbabwe, who were cruising at 200 for 4, suddenly found themselves on the back foot as Taijul unleashed a devastating spell, ultimately finishing the day at 227 for 9.
A Solid Start for Zimbabwe
The day began positively for Zimbabwe, with Brian Bennett and Nick Welch leading the charge. Bennett, in particular, looked in fine touch, striking five boundaries in the first ten overs. His early luck with a thick edge was followed by a sumptuous straight drive and a trademark cover drive that got the crowd talking. However, his innings was cut short when he edged a delivery from debutant Tanzim Hasan to the keeper, handing the young bowler his first Test wicket.
The early breakthrough was followed by another close call for Zimbabwe, as Shadman Islam dropped a sitter off Welch in the 14th over, when Welch was only on 1. This missed opportunity proved costly as Welch, along with Ben Curran, launched an aggressive attack, hitting some big sixes. Curran took on Mehidy Hasan Miraz, slogging him over midwicket, and Welch responded with a pull shot that echoed with a sweet sound off the bat, followed by a massive slog-sweep for a six.
However, the breakthrough came shortly after, with Taijul dismissing Curran for 21 off 50 balls, an inside edge that clattered onto his leg stump. Despite this, Zimbabwe's middle-order consolidated well, not losing any more wickets in the second session. Welch, who had been aggressive earlier, slowed down in the afternoon, scoring just 22 runs off 77 balls.
The Taijul Show
Zimbabwe's partnership between Welch and Sean Williams was key to their steady progress, with Williams taking charge and punishing anything loose. Williams struck the ball beautifully, hitting six boundaries, including a six off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, which showcased his attacking flair. A slight hiccup occurred in the 33rd over when a mix-up between Welch and Williams nearly resulted in a run-out, but poor communication from Bangladesh allowed the pair to survive.
As the afternoon session progressed, both Welch and Williams were visibly struggling with cramps. Welch eventually had to leave the field after tea, unable to continue his innings after just facing one ball. With Welch's departure, Bangladesh seized the initiative. Nayeem Hasan dismissed Zimbabwe’s captain, Craig Ervine, for a mere 5 before Taijul continued his rampage by removing Williams for a patient 67, caught brilliantly at backward square leg by Tanzim.
Williams' knock of 67 off 166 balls had been a cornerstone of Zimbabwe's resistance, but his dismissal sparked a quick collapse as the visitors failed to recover.
Zimbabwe's Collapse Accelerates
Bangladesh's bowlers turned the screw in the final session, conceding just 18 runs in the first 16 overs. Wessly Madhevere tried to fight back with a couple of boundaries against Nayeem, but Taijul was relentless, dismissing Madhevere for 15 with a beautifully flighted delivery that spun away.
The introduction of the second new ball brought more chaos for Zimbabwe, as Taijul took the wickets of Wellington Masakadza and Richard Ngarava in the same over. Tafadzwa Tsiga’s run-out at the non-striker's end, followed by Welch's brief return to the crease and subsequent dismissal by Taijul, sealed Zimbabwe's fate for the day.
A Day of Highs and Lows
Zimbabwe's batting, which had started with promise, unravelled in spectacular fashion, thanks to Taijul's brilliant bowling. His five-wicket haul was a masterclass in spin bowling, as he exploited the conditions and made full use of the scoreboard pressure to trigger a collapse.
Zimbabwe’s only real resistance came from Sean Williams and Nick Welch, but their efforts were ultimately not enough to prevent the innings from falling apart. With only one day of play gone, Zimbabwe now face an uphill battle to avoid being bowled out cheaply and to stay competitive in this Test.
As for Bangladesh, their spinners were clinical in the afternoon, with Taijul’s five wickets complementing Nayeem Hasan’s two. Tanzim Hasan, too, made his mark, picking up the wicket of Brian Bennett early in the day. With a strong bowling performance, Bangladesh will feel confident going into day two, looking to wrap up the Zimbabwean innings early and capitalize on their strong position.
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