Bangladesh collapse to 191 all out as Zimbabwe dominate first day in Sylhet

Bangladesh have come up with another dull show with the willow and folded for a meagre 191 as Zimbabwe followed up their fine bowling with some resolute batting on the first day of the opening Test.

Brian Bennett (40*) and Ben Curran (17*) paired in an unbroken 67-run opening stand for Zimbabwe to be 124 runs behind the hosts in their first innings at the close of play at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The openers clubbed 8 boundaries between them to help the visitors score the runs in 14.1 overs to end the day on a high note before bad light ended play, reports bdnews24.com.

For Bangladesh, only Mominul Haque, who survived a scare before scoring a run, and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto made meaningful contributions to the Tigers’ total after they opted to bat.

Zimbabwe bowlers put the batters to the sword by snapping up five wickets in 48 runs in the second session to leave the hosts teetering before the tea break.

Following the restart after a short break for rain, Zimbabwe seamers continued to bowl down the probing channel, causing problems for Bangladesh batters by cramping them for space with superb line and length.

The collapse began with skipper Shanto (40) slicing Blessing Muzarabani (2-37) straight to point.

Mominul Haque (56) then took charge and pushed his team past 100 before bringing up his fifty off 100 balls, laced with eight boundaries.

But Mushfiqur Rahim (4) mistimed and was picked out at short midwicket off Muzarabani for a soft dismissal moments before Mominul followed for a catch at the same position.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1) and Taijul Islam (3) then failed to properly negotiate short deliveries from Wellington Masakadza (3-6) and perished, leaving the hosts struggling on 146 for 7.

Jaker Ali (28) then put up some resistance with Hasan Mahmud (19), adding 41 runs to the total, but Wessly Madhevere (2-2) and Blessing Muzarabani (3-50) combined to snuff out the tail.

Earlier, Shanto and Mominul recovered from an early setback after a short post-lunch rain break.

Victor Nyauchi (2-35) struck twice in the first hour by snaring the wickets of openers Shadman Islam (12) and Mahmudul Hasan Joy (14) drawing catches behind the wicket with outside edges.

Nyauchi could have sent Mominul packing inside the first hour as well had wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo been able to hold on to one that took the batsman’s glove on the way.

Shanto then dug deep and smashed five boundaries to steady the ship and brought up the half-century partnership with Mominul off 77 balls.