Zimbabwe take control against Bangladesh on opening day in Harare Test

HARARE: Zimbabwe seized the initiative on the first day of the one-off Test against Bangladesh on Sunday, dismissing the visitors for 140 before moving to 136-1 by stumps at the Harare Sports Club.

The hosts were led by left-arm pacer Newman Nyamhuri, who returned figures of 4-61 as Bangladesh suffered a dramatic collapse after appearing to have rebuilt their innings. Zimbabwe, who are looking to add another win over Bangladesh after beating them in Bangladesh last year, then closed in on the tourists’ total through an unbeaten 76 from opener Innocent Kaia.

Bangladesh had arrived in southern Africa after a 2-0 Test series sweep of Pakistan, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto carrying strong form into the match. But their batting line-up struggled badly, with only Mominul Haque, Shadman Islam and Najmul managing double figures. Mominul top-scored with 60, while Shadman made 20 and Najmul added 19.

After losing opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for two and then Shadman, Bangladesh found some stability through a 77-run partnership for the third wicket. That stand lifted them to 113-3, but the innings unravelled from there as the last seven wickets fell for just 27 runs.

Zimbabwe bowlers trigger collapse

Nyamhuri was supported by captain Richard Ngarava, who took 2-18, while Blessing Muzarabani claimed 2-19 and Brad Evans picked up 2-30. The slide began with the dismissal of Najmul and continued rapidly as Zimbabwe’s bowlers ran through the lower order.

Bangladesh’s full total came in 47.2 overs. Mushfiqur Rahim was bowled by Ngarava for nine, Towhid Hridoy made three, Amite Hasan scored four, and Taijul Islam contributed nine. Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed were both dismissed without scoring, while Ebadot Hossain remained unbeaten on nought. Bangladesh also collected 14 extras, including six byes, six leg-byes and two wides.

Kaia anchors strong reply

Zimbabwe then made a confident start in reply, reaching 89 before losing their first wicket when Ben Curran, after scoring 42, edged Khaled Ahmed to Najmul at second slip. Kaia continued to hold the innings together and was unbeaten on 76 at the close, his 108-ball knock containing nine fours.

Kaia added an unbroken 47 with Brendan Taylor, who was 17 not out at stumps, to take Zimbabwe to within four runs of Bangladesh’s first-innings total. Zimbabwe’s innings had progressed through 34 overs by the close, with only one wicket down.

For Bangladesh, Khaled claimed the lone wicket for 33 runs in eight overs. Hasan Mahmud went wicketless in 10 overs and conceded 46 runs, Ebadot Hossain gave away 37 in six overs without a breakthrough, while Taijul Islam finished with 0-19 from 10 overs.

Zimbabwe ended the day with Kaia and Taylor at the crease and a strong platform in place as the hosts pressed for first-innings advantage in Harare.