Bangladesh Level Series with Zimbabwe on Spin-Friendly Pitch

Sports Desk

Bangladesh crushed Zimbabwe by an innings and 106 runs in the second Test at Chattogram on Wednesday, leveling the two-match series 1-1. After losing the first Test in Sylhet on a sporting pitch, the hosts opted for a spin-friendly wicket in the second game and wrapped up the victory within three days.

Trailing by 217 runs after the first innings, Zimbabwe collapsed for just 111 runs in their second innings. Earlier, Bangladesh had posted a commanding total of 444 runs in their first innings.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz emerged as the star of the match, delivering a brilliant all-round performance. He scored a maiden Test century and then claimed five wickets, becoming only the third Bangladeshi cricketer, after Shakib Al Hasan and Sohag Gazi, to achieve a century and a five-wicket haul in the same Test.

In Zimbabwe’s second innings, Taijul Islam gave Bangladesh an ideal start by dismissing two batsmen in consecutive deliveries. He sent Brian Bennett back with a catch to Sadman Islam and trapped Nick Welch leg-before on the very next ball.

Nayeem Hasan joined the attack, removing Sean Williams, who edged a catch to Sadman. At 22 for 3, Zimbabwe’s captain Craig Ervine and Ben Curran added a 47-run partnership before Miraz broke through.

Miraz bowled Ervine, who had been given a reprieve earlier at 16, for 25. In the same over, he also dismissed Wesley Madhevere. Miraz continued to dominate, removing Tafadzwa Tsiga, who fell shortly after surviving a review.

Despite Ben Curran’s efforts to resist, he fell short of a half-century, edging a catch to the wicketkeeper off Miraz, completing the spinner’s five-wicket haul. Curran scored 46 runs. Taijul then dismissed Richard Ngarava, and Vincent Masikece was run out to end the Zimbabwe innings.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh resumed their innings at 291 and added 147 more runs. Miraz played a stellar knock of 162, supported by Tanzim Hasan Sakib’s 41 and Taijul’s 20.

This comprehensive victory demonstrated Bangladesh’s strength on spin-friendly pitches, sealing an emphatic series equalizer.