Twitter Reactions: Nayeem Hasan’s four-fer, Craig Ervine’s ton headline steady opening day in Mirpur

The opening day’s play between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in Mirpur posed a lot of challenge for the batters. Craig Ervine and Co tried their level best, scoring 228 for the loss of six wickets. There was turn on offer for the spinners and Nayeem Hasan made use of the conditions with a four-wicket haul. With the pitch expected to break further, the batters will be in for a tough task going forward.

Ervine holds it together

Zimbabwe had to work hard for their runs in the initial stages as Ebadot Hossain and Abu Jayed Rahi hit the right channels. One of the openers, Kevin Kasuza, fell prey to Rahi after toiling hard for 24 balls. But Prince Masvaure (64) and Craig Ervine restored sanity. The duo carried the visitors, unscathed, to 80/1 at Lunch. They carried on the good work and put on 111 for the second wicket.

Nayeem Hasan induced a caught and bowled to get rid of Masvaure. Brendan Taylor started with an inside out drive for a four, but Nayeem rattled his woodwork soon after. At the other end, Ervine put his head down and got to his half-century off 117 balls. The left-hander was appointed as the skipper in Sean Williams’ absence and he led from the front in rather challenging conditions in Mirpur.

Nayeem picks up four

In the second session, Zimbabwe again trod the patient root, scoring 70 in 30 overs. Sikandar Raza tried to occupy the crease before he became Nayeem’s third victim after scoring 18 runs off 62 balls with three fours. Timycen Maruma replaced Williams in the eleven and he couldn’t survive the heat. Speedster Jayed trapped him plumb in front to send half the visitors’ batting back to the pavilion.

Ervine didn’t stop though and got to his third Test century off 213 balls. The left-hander whipped one away off Abu Jayed, completed a couple, and then pumped his fists in ecstasy. But his joy didn’t last long as Nayeem ripped his poles apart in the penultimate over of the day. The ball ricocheted off the pads on to the stumps when he went for a cover drive. He managed 107 off 227 with 13 fours.

Here’s how Twitterati reacted to the first day’s play: –

Debut as skipper & a hundred from Craig Ervine…A real defensive knock 😍😍🔥🇿🇼🇿🇼 @ZimCricketv #BANvZIM #ShehabsTweet

— Shehab Khan (@ShehabSK1) February 22, 2020

The game is one sided #BANvZIM

— Farhan rakib (@Farhanrakib1) February 22, 2020

That's stumps on Day 1. This was the first session that belong to Bangladesh. The late wicket of Ervine will certainly help Bangladesh tomorrow as they will look to wrap off the things quickly tomorrow morning. #BANvZIM

— Darpan Jain (@darpanjain103) February 22, 2020

Ervine departs after a well-made century. It was a great inning but he has been sent to pavilion now.#BANvZIM

— Darpan Jain (@darpanjain103) February 22, 2020

@NH33Official Similar to Lyon. #BANvZIM

— Let Me Think (@Chutzpah_101) February 22, 2020

Taijul Still learning. veteran player still playing under the shadow Nayeem. #BANvZIM

— Let Me Think (@Chutzpah_101) February 22, 2020

A captains’ knock!! #BANvZIM

— SimmsMudube (@simmaita) February 22, 2020

Congratulations to stand-in skipper Craig Ervine on his third test 100 for @ZimCricketv. My champion #BANvZIM pic.twitter.com/39MoQQ0BJc

— larry kwirirayi (@kwirirayi) February 22, 2020

Century for Craig Ervine. Leading from the front.#BANvZIM pic.twitter.com/1j6z4fFbVZ

— Darpan Jain (@darpanjain103) February 22, 2020

What a shocker from the umpire, good review by Zim. Now Timcyn needs to rotate the strike its not like we have closed shop already! #BANvZIM pic.twitter.com/dClttSKiaK

— Baynham Goredema 🇿🇼 (@bayhaus) February 22, 2020

100 for Craig Ervine!
What a superb innings this has been from him. #ZIMvBAN

— Wesley00005 (@Wesley000051) February 22, 2020

Bloody good century from Craig Ervine. 100 up in 215 balls!

He becomes only the second Zimbabwean after Dave Houghton to score a century on his first run as captain. Brilliant stuff.

— Adam ‘Ungovernable’ Theofilatos🇿🇼 (@AdamTheofilatos) February 22, 2020