Spinners lead Bangladesh to innings win

Bangladesh players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Zimbabwe in the one-off Test series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. — AFP photo

Feb 26,2020

Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan claimed 5-82 in the second innings and finished with a match haul of nine wickets to guide Bangladesh to an innings and 106-run win over Zimbabwe in the one-off Test in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Nayeem and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam (4-78) shared nine wickets between them as Bangladesh bowled out Zimbabwe for 189 runs in the second innings, ending their six-match losing streak in this format.

This was Bangladesh’s only second innings margin win in Tests and first since they defeated West Indies by an innings and 184 runs at Mirpur in 2018.

With rain predicted on the fourth and fifth day, Bangladesh were in a hurry to complete the win and spinners duo did not frustrate them claiming wickets regularly under a gloomy sky.

When teams perform well with bat and ball it often rises their fielding and this was evident in the match as Bangladesh fielders claimed at least two outstanding catches and also completed a brilliant run out.

The energetic show by bowlers and fielders did not allow Zimbabwe to settle for a second ever since Taijul made the first strike in the fifth over of the day by removing overnight batsman Kevin Kasuza.

Kasuza could add just two runs to his bedtime eight before deceived by Taijul who induced an edge to Mohammad Mithun at slip.

The extra-bounce of Nayeem perhaps encouraged other overnight batsman Brendan Taylor to go for an untimely pull shot but only could manage a top-edge before the ball flew to Taijul at square leg.

Zimbabwe’s most experienced batsman Taylor fell for 17, which also reduced his side to 44-4.

Skipper Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza offered some resistance by putting 60-run for the fifth wicket stand before a moment of magic produced by Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque left them in disarray.

Mominul accomplished a run out with a direct throw from point after Raza set off for a single and Ervine (43) was late to respond.

Taijul removed Raza for 37 owing to Mushfiqur Rahim, who took a flying catch at midwicket.

Timycen Maruma and Regis Chakabva then added 44 runs for the seventh wicket to make Bangladesh wait for their win.

Taijul broke the stand again by removing Chakabva for 18 as Tamim took a spectacular catch at mid-on this time.

Nayeem trapped Ainsley Ndlovu for four before completing his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Maruma, who was caught by Tamim at mid-wicket after making 41 runs.

Taijul wrapped up the contest by trapping Charlton Tshuma for three to secure the win before the tea break.

Bangladesh earlier on Monday declared their first innings at 560-6, with a handsome 295-run first innings lead after Mushfiqur Rahim (203 not out) and Mominul (132) both struck their respective hundreds.

Zimbabwe were folded for 265 runs in their first innings with Ervine top-scoring with 107 runs.