Bangladesh Vs Zimbabwe One Off Teat Played at SBNCS 22-26 February 2020
Brief Scorecard
Bangladesh 1st Innings 560/9 declared in 154 overs Overs. (Mushfiqur Rahim 203*, Mominul Haque 132, Nazmul Hossain 71, Liton K Das 53, Tamim Iqbal 41, A Ndlovu 2/170, DT Tripano 1/96, VM Nyauchi 1/87) beat Zimbabwe 1st Innings 265 All Out In 106.3 Overs (CR Ervine 107, PS Masvure 64, R Chakava 30, Naeem Hasan 4/70, Abu Jayed 4/71 and Taijul Islam 2/90) and 2nd Innings 189 All Out in 59.3 Overs (CR Ervine 43, T Maruma 41, Sikandar Raza 37, Naeem Hasan 5/82, Taijul Islam 4/78) by an Innings and 106 Runs.
Player of The Match: Mushfiqur Rahim.
As expected Bangladesh earned a huge win in the one off test against touring Zimbabwe by an innings and 106 with a day and over a full session of 4th day left of the match. Bangladesh after 6 consecutive tests of very poor performance got back into winning streak. Any win always boost the sagging morale of a team after consecutive losses. Hope such a huge win will give Bangladesh a shot in the arm for raising their game in ensuing test matches against major oppositions. Team will feel much better as none less than BCB President felt before the match that Bangladesh may even not win test against Zimbabwe. In his assessment he thought Bangladesh test standard went down while Zimbabwe improved. Hope this win will please him as he was proved very wrong. There can be always high and low tide in flowing rivers. But the boatmen should remain little concerned.
Winning the toss and electing to bat Zimbabwe did reasonably well against quality bowling attack of the home side scoring 265 all out in 106.3 overs. On what appeared to be a sporting wicket, against probing Bangladesh attack touring captain Ervine batted responsibly scoring a patient 107. Other than him and opener Masvure (64) none could master Bangladesh attack spearheaded by Abu Jayed (4/71) and Naeem Hasan (4/70). For Bangladesh the depleted Zimbabwean attack looked like friendly fire. Their pacers did not have pace, swing and swing movement. Spinners could neither g turn. Very low morale Bangladesh batsmen exploited the opportunity. A huge score of 560/6 virtually pushed Zimbabwe out of the match. Only Rookie Saif Hasan missed out. Tamim looked like getting into his stride. But he wasted a golden opportunity of playing a long innings. Little Bird or pocket dynamo whichever he is know captain Mominul Haque played a chanceless polished innings of 132. It was his 9th century (all scored at home) equally the number of Tamim Iqbal. Mushfiqur Rahim familiar as Mr. Dependable remained not out scoring his third double century (203) and 7th century over all. Two M’s batted brilliantly adding 222 for the 4th wicket partnership. Rapidly improving Nazmul Hossain Shanto also missed out from scoring his maiden century producing a good looking innings of 71. Liton K Das coming to bat at number 7 added bright 53.
Without taking away any credit from the Bangladesh batsmen it may be said that this Zimbabwean attack is possibly the weakest among the test teams. Yet scoring century or double century by any player in any international match is definitely am achievement. Mominul and Mushfique definitely deserves lots of appreciation for the skill, concentration and tenacity. A bit uncertain weather forcast perhaps hastened Mominul in declaring the innings or otherwise Mushfique’s innings had every chance of getting bigger.
Trailed by huge 295 Zimbabwe fate was well cut out. In the fading lights on day three Naeem striking double blow in the first over pegged the tourist back. At stumps of day three tourists at 9/2 were staring at defeat.
On day the only concern was whether the weather will interfere. Naeem and Taijul started turning and bouncing making life extremely difficult for the tourists. Wickets kept tumbling. Ervine (43), Maruma (41) and Sikandar Raza (37) tried resisting. But their efforts could only reduce the margin of defeat. Naeem bowled superbly all through the match taking 5/82 in the second innings and 9/152 in the match .Taijul his ideal foil took 4/78. Bangladesh won by an innings and 106 runs. A good test win indeed.
Bangladesh must not feel at all complacent. Playing even in the next test against Pakistan at Karachi will be very different against fast and furious Pakistan pace attack on lively wicket. Between now and that event Bangladesh players must be given opportunity of practicing on pacey wickets .Abu Jayed, Ebadat, Mustafiz, Taskin and Saifuddin must have good work outs.
BDST: 1526 HRS, FEB 25, 2020
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