Zimbabwe fans felt relief as their team beat Bangladesh by three wickets on the fourth day of the first Test in Sylhet. The victory put Zimbabwe ahead 1-0 in the two-match series. This marked their fourth Test win abroad after completing their highest successful chase. Their last overseas Test win also happened at Sylhet back in 2018.
Blessing Muzarabani led the way with nine wickets, helping dismiss Bangladesh for 255 runs in their second innings. This gave Zimbabwe a target of 174 runs to win. Openers Ben Curran and Brian Bennett scored 95 runs together, becoming just the fourth pair to make consecutive 50-run partnerships in both innings of a Test match. The previous Zimbabwe pair to do this was Tino Mawoyo and Vusi Sibanda against Bangladesh in 2011.
Despite this strong start, Zimbabwe struggled as wickets fell often. Wessly Madhevere and number nine batsman Richard Ngarava helped finish the job after a collapse when Zimbabwe needed less than 50 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took his second five-wicket haul of the Test for Bangladesh. He claimed his 200th Test wicket during an impressive ten-wicket performance, but it wasn't enough to stop Zimbabwe.
Bennett scored 54 runs from 81 balls, and Curran added 44 runs from 75 balls to lead Zimbabwe. Miraz finished with five wickets for 50 runs as the best Bangladesh bowler. Taijul Islam took two wickets as well. Zimbabwe reached the target with seven wickets lost in what should have been an easier chase.
Blessing Muzarabani led the way with nine wickets, helping dismiss Bangladesh for 255 runs in their second innings. This gave Zimbabwe a target of 174 runs to win. Openers Ben Curran and Brian Bennett scored 95 runs together, becoming just the fourth pair to make consecutive 50-run partnerships in both innings of a Test match. The previous Zimbabwe pair to do this was Tino Mawoyo and Vusi Sibanda against Bangladesh in 2011.
Despite this strong start, Zimbabwe struggled as wickets fell often. Wessly Madhevere and number nine batsman Richard Ngarava helped finish the job after a collapse when Zimbabwe needed less than 50 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took his second five-wicket haul of the Test for Bangladesh. He claimed his 200th Test wicket during an impressive ten-wicket performance, but it wasn't enough to stop Zimbabwe.
Bennett scored 54 runs from 81 balls, and Curran added 44 runs from 75 balls to lead Zimbabwe. Miraz finished with five wickets for 50 runs as the best Bangladesh bowler. Taijul Islam took two wickets as well. Zimbabwe reached the target with seven wickets lost in what should have been an easier chase.
