BAN vs ZIM 2025, 2nd Test Day 1 Review: Williams, Welch fifties and Taijul Islam's fifer headline tightly contested day

The second Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe has witnessed the home team dominate the first day in the last hour and a half, taking control of the game from the visitors at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram. 

The first two sessions saw the Zimbabwe batters dominate where the openers delivered a decent opening stand before getting dismissed. In the end, the knocks from Nick Welch (54 off 133) and Sean Williams (67 off 166) were enough to keep the visitors in control at Tea with the score reading 161/2.

However, it was the last session where the game completely turned around as the Bangladesh spinners created havoc and started taking wickets at regular intervals. Zimbabwe are currently on a score of 227-9 at the end of Day 1 with wicketkeeper-batter Tafadzwa Tsiga and Blessing Muzarabani at the crease, who will continue the innings tomorrow.

Also Read: 'I ask for patience from the Bangladesh people' – Phil Simmons after defeat against Zimbabwe

Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan bring back the Tigers in the game

This is an important game for the Bangla Tigers since they have already suffered a narrow loss in the first Test. The Chevrons looked good after the first two sessions, and the hosts needed something special to get back into the game. It came from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and young off-spinner Nayeem Hasan.

Taijul bowled one of the best spells in the game, ending the day with impressive figures of 5/60 in 27 overs, but the contribution from Nayeem Hasan could not be ignored as well who also took crucial wickets of Sean Williams and Craig Ervine which led to the eventual collapse of the innings which was looking good at one stage. The two kept the brakes on the scoring and made crucial breakthroughs in what is a must-win game.