(Hosts Bangladesh look to improve their Test ranking as they face Zimbabwe after a gap of 18 months)
Stumps, Day 1. Interesting and good day of play from Bangladesh’s point of view comes to an end. Brilliant game-play by the hosts while a careless approach by the visitors. However, it was Shakib Al Hasan who was undoubtedly the star of the day claiming six wickets to tear apart Zimbabwe’s batting line-up.
After an early setback for Bangladesh in the form of Tamim Iqbal being dismissed for mere five, Shamsur Rahman and Mominul Haque look to steer the innings forward without getting panicked as they play confortably and refrain themselves from taking any undue risks.
OUT!!!!!!!! First breakthrough for Zimbabwe comin gin the 5th over. Tamim Iqbal looking to play a short-pitched delivery. The ball clips his glove and rises in the air only to be collected by Masakadza diving to his left with both hands.
T Iqbal 5 (10) c Masakadza b Panyangara
OUT!!!!!!!! That’s it. That’s the end of Zimbabwe’s first innings. Sikandar Raza’s good knock of 51 goes in vain as the remaining batsmen fail to impress and steer the team to a commendable total in this innings. Would be interesting to see how they perform with the ball.
T Kamungozi 5 (9) c Rahman b Hasan
Well, Zimbabwe are crumbling apart as they lose anothe rhtree wickets and just have a wicket remaining in their 1st innings. Chakabva, Nyumbu and Panyangara, all dismissed for cheap runs of 25, 14 and 8 respectively and it seems the road almost ends here for Zimbabwe in the first innings.
R Chakabva 25, J Nyumbu 14, T Panyangara 8
OUT!!!!!!!! That’s what was being talked about to avoid and that’s what just happened. Islam dismisses chris Ervine for 34 missing out on a possible fifty. A good ball as Ervine stretches in front to play but thga ball takes an inside edge, hits tha bat and pops up in the air to be collected by Haque at Short leg. Six down for Zimbabwe.
C Ervine 34 (65) c Haque b Islam
As the post-lunch session kicks-off, Ervine and Chakabva look to extend their run on the pitch and would surely look to bat for the remaining session of the day. In all circumstances, the coach along with the captain must have discussed this point specifically during the tea break back at the dressing room. Ervine, in the meanwhile looks to get his 50 as he is on 33 at present.
As the innings nears the tea break, Zimbabwe look to hold on to their five-wicket advantage and move into the tea break without any further loss of wickets so that they could strategise their plans ahead of the remaining session. The bowlers are bowling brilliantly and continuously putting pressure on the batsmen and condemn them to commit mistakes.
OUT!!!!!!! Chigumbura depart now for 29. Shakib bowls outside off with an even bounce as Chigumbura goes for a drive, but the ball hits the top of the bat only to be collected by Mominul Haque in a low catch. Zimbabwe are now in troble as their half team have been dismissed.
E Chigumbura 29 (53) c Haque b Hasan
OUT!!!!!!!!!! It’s Raza’s time to walk back. Brilliant fifty, but couldn’t convert it to a big score. Another flighted delivery from Hossain, Raza comes down and drives but straight to the hands of Mahmudullah at Short-Cover. Fourth down for Zimbabwe as Craig Ervine walks in.
S Raza 51 (122) c Mahmudullah b Hossain
Steady innings played by Zimbabwe as Chigumbura and Raza handling the job of maintaining a good gameplay. raza, who is on 45 and nearing 50 has been on the crease since the opening and is almost well accustomed to the condition suited for the gameplay. A fifty here would boost his confidence and we could see an improvised play from the batsman.
OUT!!!!!!! It’s the skipper who has to depart for 28. A flighted one from Jubair Hossain, Taylor failing to read it properly goes for a big one, but the ball drops short and flies in the air off the bat to be collected at mid-off by Taijul Islam. Zimbabwe are three down. First Test wicket for Hossain.
B Taylor 28 (62) c Islam b Hossain
It’s Lunch on Day 1 of the first Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. A slow and composed gameplay from Zimbabwe’s point of view. They lost two early wickets, but have not paniced thereafter as Sikandar Raza and Brendan Taylor steer the innings comfortably against Bangladesh who too have bowled brilliantly so far, hardly allowing the batsmen to play freely.
Good play for the next five overs as well. few big shots played by Sikandar Raza as Brendan Taylor looks to support him to play his natural game with a free flow. Bangladesh bowling a good line and length so far, however few loose deliveries have been punished for boundaries.
Another sensible five overs from Zimbabwean point of view. Good bowling from bangladesh as well as they tend to give no room to the Zimbabwean batsmen to play freely. Just six runs added of the last six overs, however there is nothing to panic for Zimbabwe as it is the initial stage of the first day’s play.
Fifty up for the Zimbabweans. a slow and steady start as they are already two down. With Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza departing early for cheap, Sikandar Raza and skipper, Brendan Taylor have an important task ahead to steer their innings forward and make sure to not allow the Bnagladesh bowlers to get another breakthrough and settle down, putting pressure over his team.
OUT!!!!!!!!!! A flighted delivery from Shakib as Masakadza looks to hit it down the ground, but couldn’t time it well enough and the ball flies in the air to be comfortably taken by Taijul Islam. It’s the second one down for Zimbabwe.
H Masakadza 13 (32) c Islam b Hasan
A slow start to the Zimbabwean innings after the loss of Vusi Sibanda in the first over came as a shock and a realty taste that Zimbabwe won’t have it easy on the typical sub-continental track at Mirpur, thus forcing Raza and Masakadza to play sensibly.
Lots happening in the first over. Shahadat Hossain started off with a pitched up delivery and Sibanda had no reason to hold back, drives it for four. The pacer follows up with a couple of short balls. The fifth ball has some swing in it and kisses the edge before resting in to the hands of the ‘keeper.
Zimbabwe:Regis Chakabva (wk), Vusi Sibanda, Brendan Taylor (c), Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara, Sikandar Raza
Toss: Zimbabwe win the toss and elect to bat.
Bangladesh and Zimbabwe face-off on the first day of the opening Test to be contested at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on Friday. The two teams are scheduled to play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals (ODI) in order to get some practice with the World Cup just around the corner. I am Ayush Gupta and I will bring you the live updates of the match.
The hosts have not won a Test or one-day international this year, putting them under immense pressure in what should be a battle of equals against the African side. Zimbabwe are at number nine in the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings, while Bangladesh are last at 10.
Zimbabwe’s captain Brendan Taylor said he relished the challenge of playing Bangladesh in their own backyard. “We have not played a Test out of Zimbabwe for 18 months, so this new series a big challenge for us,” Taylor said. “It is exciting to be playing three Tests on this tour.” The Test series will be followed by five one-day internationals.
The two teams have faced each other in 11 Tests till date, six of which have been won by Zimbabwe and two by Bangladesh.
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