After the disappointments in the Test series in India and the first Test in Pakistan, Bangladesh bounced back to seal a win by an innings and 106 runs in Dhaka against Zimbabwe. There were periods of resistance from the visitors but they had already been knocked out of the contest after Mushfiqur Rahim’s double ton on the third ton.
Conceding a 295-run first-innings lead was never ideal and the situation became a lot worse when they lost two wickets in the first over. Coming into the fourth day, at 9 or 2, Zimbabwe needed patience and resilience. But it was the Bangladesh bowlers who came out with those disciplines. Maidens in the first three overs built the pressure and resulted in the wicket of Kevin Kasuza on the sixth over of the day.
Brendan Taylor adventurism didn’t pay off as he was caught at long-leg off a top edge trying to slog-sweep Nayeem Hasan. At 44 for 4, Zimbabwe looked set for an early finish. Craig Ervine came out and had his share of fun – scoring 43 off 49 – before a needless run out just before lunch ended his stay. The Zimbabwe captain was late on responding on a call from Sikandar Raza and was run out at the striker’s end.
The 60-run stand between Ervine and Raza had frustrated the hosts but they had found an opening heading into the second session. Raza fell early into the second session but Timycen Maruma and Regis Chakabva stitched a 44-run stand to arrest the slide for a brief period. Taijul Islam broke that stand with the wicket of the latter before his partner-in-crime Nayeem removed Ainsley Ndlovu.
At 170 for 8, the end was near. Nayeem completed his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Maruma and ended with nine in the game. Taijul picked up four as the spinners bagged nine in the second innings to dismantle the Zimbabwean challenge
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 265 (Craig Ervine 107; Nayeem Hasan 4-70) & 114/5 (Craig Ervine 43; Nayeem 5-82) lost to Bangladesh 560/6 dec (Musfiqur Rahim 203*, Mominul Haque 132) by an innings and 106 runs.
