Dhaka – Zimbabwe scored 236 for 5 in 91 overs at stumps in the first innings against host Bangladesh after day one in the first Test of a two-match series at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.Peter Moor [37* off 122b; 4×4] and Regis Chakabva [20* off 48b; 2×4] were at the crease in the sixth stand when the bails were drawn for the first day at Bangladesh’s latest and eighth Test venue in the country’s northeastern hilly city, which is mostly famous for its green beauty of tea gardens.
P Moor and R Chakabva held their nerves for an unbeaten partnership of 87-ball 35 at the end after the dismissal of the day’s big hitter Sean Williams who completed a half century of 88 off 173 balls with nine boundaries alongside a glittering partnership of 72 off 29 overs with P Moor in the fifth stand.
Another half century by Zimbabwe skipper-cum-opener Hamilton Masakadza [52 off 105b; 4×4; 2×6], spurred the visitors’ first day’s total.
Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad grabbed S Williams – caught by Mehidy Hasan Miraz – at 201/5 in 76.3 overs to remove the fifth pair stand, which started from 129/4 in 47.3 overs after the dismissal of Sikandar Raza.
After tea, the visitors resumed the innings with 149 for 4 in 62 overs and added 87 runs more for the loss of one wicket, playing 29 overs in the third session.
Earlier, Zimbabwe played 31 overs with losing identical two wickets in each of the first two sessions and were in difficulties against Bangladesh’s bowling attacks as they failed to reach a 150-run mark at tea break.
Zimbabwe collected 85/2 in the first session and added 64 off 31 overs more in the second session at the cost of another two wickets as Abu Jayed trapped H Masakadza by lbw before Nazmul Islam bowled out Sikandar Raza.
H Masakadza was ended on 85/3 in 32 overs following Sikandar Raza’s dismissal for 19 run, leaving team collection on 85/3 in 32nd overs.
Zimbabwe opened the innings with bat after winning the toss and lost the first wicket in the innings 10.4 overs as spinner Taijul Islam bowled out Brian Chari [13 off 31b; 2×4] on 35/1 and got B Taylor on single digit in the 16.2 overs before the visitors reached 50-run mark. B Taylor was caught by Nazmul Hossain Shanto, leaving his side on 47/2.
Taijul got two wickets for 86 runs while Mahmudullah [1/2], debut Nazmul Islam [1/42] and Abu Jayed [1/61] equally shared three wickets for the host on the day.UNB
