Bangladesh Fight Back After Sylhet Setback with Dominant Bowling Display
Chattogram witnessed a dramatic turnaround on Day One of the second Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe as left-arm spinner Taijul Islam bagged a brilliant five-wicket haul, dismantling Zimbabwe’s batting line-up and breathing life back into the hosts’ hopes of leveling the series.
Zimbabwe's Hopes Crash After Solid Start
Coming into this Test on the back of a thrilling win in Sylhet, Zimbabwe were eyeing a historic series victory. However, their confidence took a major hit after a dramatic batting collapse saw them slump from 96 for 2 to 165 all out.
While Brian Bennett once again showed promise with a steady 36, none of the middle or lower-order batters could withstand Bangladesh's disciplined spin attack. Taijul Islam's 5 for 35 was the standout, as Zimbabwe failed to build on their early momentum.
Bangladesh’s Batting Woes Continue—Until Openers Fire
Bangladesh’s top-order, long criticized for underperformance, finally found relief in Chattogram. Openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan stitched together a rare century stand, their first in over two years, putting Bangladesh in the driver's seat by stumps on Day One.
Mahmudul, in particular, stood out with a composed century—his first in Test cricket—while Zakir provided solid support. Their partnership not only gave Bangladesh a lead but also lifted the morale of a team under fire for poor top-order form.
Spotlight on Bowling: Bangladesh’s New Heroes Step Up
With Mehidy Hasan Miraz fresh off a 10-wicket haul in Sylhet, the pressure was on the spinners again in Chattogram. Mehidy offered control, but it was Taijul who ripped through Zimbabwe’s middle order with his guile and accuracy.
Bangladesh, missing pacer Nahid Rana due to his PSL commitment, turned to Tanzim Hasan, who offered decent pace support alongside Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed. Despite the lack of raw speed, the Bangladeshi bowlers showed adaptability on the slower Chattogram surface.
Zimbabwe’s Depth Tested
Zimbabwe’s pace unit, which was lethal in Sylhet, struggled to replicate their form in Chattogram. Blessing Muzarabani, the hero from the first Test with figures of 9 for 122, looked less threatening, while support from Ngarava and Nyauchi lacked sting on a batting-friendly pitch.
Their batting, already a concern, collapsed again despite some resistance from Sean Williams. The lower order offered minimal resistance, exposing the team’s lack of depth under pressure.
Quotes from the Camp
“We need to break it down into small bits and stick to our processes.”
— Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine on handling expectations after their Sylhet win
“We lost pace, not strength. Hopefully, the spinners will make a difference.”
— Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons on the absence of Nahid Rana
What Lies Ahead
With the pitch still favoring the batters and rain forecast for the next three days, Bangladesh will look to pile on the runs and secure a first-innings lead big enough to pressure Zimbabwe in the fourth innings. The visitors, meanwhile, will need a massive effort from their bowlers and a far better showing with the bat to keep their series hopes alive.
Zimbabwe lead the two-match series 1-0 after their thrilling three-wicket victory in Sylhet
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