Bangladesh trails Zimbabwe by 25 runs after day two of the first Test

Bangladesh reduces Zimbabwe's lead to 25 runs on day two with Mehidy Hasan Miraz's key wickets and Nahid Rana's pace bowling.

Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz (C) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Zimbabwe's Victor Nyauchi on the second day of the first Test match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on April 21, 2025. Photo by Munir Uz Zaman/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Bangladesh showed resilience on day two of the first Test against Zimbabwe, closing in on the visitors' first-innings total. After a challenging first day, where Bangladesh found themselves at a disadvantage, they responded strongly on Monday. The home side ended the second day trailing Zimbabwe by just 25 runs after Mehidy Hasan Miraz's brilliant bowling display helped restrict Zimbabwe to 273.

The first day of the Test in Sylhet had been a tough one for Bangladesh. Despite winning the toss and opting to bat first, Bangladesh’s batters were unable to take full advantage of the home conditions. Zimbabwe’s bowlers dominated, dismissing Bangladesh for a modest total of 191. The Zimbabwe attack, led by pacer Blessing Muzarabani, kept the hosts under control. The Zimbabwean side took a commanding stance, closing the day with an impressive 67-0.

On the second day, Bangladesh's bowlers, particularly Mehidy Hasan Miraz, made a strong comeback. Miraz's five-wicket haul dismantled Zimbabwe’s top order, leaving them with no real foundation. The day began with Zimbabwe in a dominant position, but their openers were quickly sent back to the pavilion. Ben Curran fell for 18, followed by Brian Bennett, who had been Zimbabwe's most aggressive batter, scoring 57 from 64 balls. The score stood at 88-2 when Bennett departed.

Zimbabwe's middle order struggled to build on the early momentum. Only Sean Williams, who managed a 59-run knock, was able to make an impact. Wessly Madhevere (24), Nyasha Mayavo (35), and Richard Ngarava (28) could not convert their starts into significant scores.

Mehidy played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's resurgence, taking the wickets of Williams, Mayavo, and Ngarava. With a final tally of 5-52, he became the standout performer of the day. His sharp spin bowling on a pitch that was expected to favor pacers was critical to Bangladesh's recovery. In support of Miraz, Nahid Rana delivered an aggressive spell, claiming 3-74 to further limit Zimbabwe's scoring opportunities.

Starting their second innings 82 runs behind, Bangladesh was dealt an early blow when Shadman Islam was dismissed for 4 by Blessing Muzarabani. With the score at 13-1, the pressure was on Bangladesh to rebuild. However, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mominul Haque steadied the ship. The pair put together a valuable partnership, with Joy finishing the day on 28 not out and Mominul on 15. At stumps, Bangladesh had reached 57-1, needing 25 more runs to draw level with Zimbabwe.

As the Test moves into its third day, Bangladesh's captain Najmul Hossain Shanto will be hopeful of capitalizing on the home conditions to set a challenging target for Zimbabwe. Despite missing some key players, Bangladesh has a strong track record on these spin-friendly pitches. With a history of eight wins against Zimbabwe in 18 encounters, including four victories in their last five meetings, the hosts will aim to build on their progress and push for a crucial victory in the first Test.

The final match of this series will take place in Chattogram starting April 28, where Zimbabwe will look to bounce back and keep their series hopes alive. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be keen to carry forward their momentum and seal the first Test in Sylhet.

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