Sylhet (Bangladesh): Brandon Mavuta (4/21) and Sikandar Raza (3/41) shared seven wickets between them as Zimbabwe recorded their first Test win in five years with a thumping 151-run victory over Bangladesh here Tuesday.
Set a target of 321 runs in the second innings Bangladesh were dismissed for 169 runs much to the celebrations of the visitors. Incidentally it was also Zimbabwe’s first away Test win in 17 years.
Left-arm spinner and debutant Wellington Maskadza (2/33) took the final wicket of the innings, sending Ariful Haque (38) back to the pavilion as Zimbabwe notched their first Test win since beating Pakistan in Harare in 2013.
“I am ecstatic. I thought the guys went out and worked really hard to apply themselves,” Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza said in the post match presentation ceremony.
Bangladesh started the day on an overnight score of 26 without loss still needing 295 runs to win. However, three quick wickets off the bowling of Raza in the first session started the downfall. Kyle Jarvis (1/29) and Mavuta added another two to leave the home side reeling 115/5 at lunch.
Meanwhile, Mavuta dismissed Bangladesh’s last accomplished batsman Mushfiqur Rahim (13) soon after the play resumed before Zimbabwe wrapped things up. The second Test begins in Dhaka from November 11-15. Opener Imrul Kayes (43) was the only other Bangladeshi batsman to offer some resistance.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 282 & 181 beat Bangladesh 143 & 169 (Imrul Kayes 43, Ariful Haque 38; Brandon Mavuta 4/21, Sikandar Raza 3/41) by 151 runs.