ZIM vs BAN, Only Test, Day 1 Review: Liton Das, Mahmudullah help Bangladesh recover from Zimbabwe blows

Half-centuries from skipper Mominul Haque, Liton Das and Mahmudullah helped visitors Bangladesh recover from a relentless Zimbabwe assault that had them gasping multiple times in the day, though, most noteworthily in the first two sessions at Harare.

Having won the toss, Haque’s decision to bat proved detrimental with Blessing Muzarabani making early inroads that reduced Bangladesh 8/2. Muzarabani cleaned up opener Saif Hassan for a duck before getting Najmul Hussain Shanto caught in the cordon to immediately make his opponents regret their choice at the toss.

From the other end, Shadman Islam showed some resistance en route to the 60-run stand with his skipper for the third-wicket that blunted the Zimbabwean attack after a menacing start. Just when it seemed that honours for the opening session might be shared, Richard Ngarava induced an edge from Islam for the first slip to gulp, titling scales once again in favour of the hosts at Lunch.

Pacers hurt Bangladesh further 

Haque multiplied Bangladesh’s hopes to settle down in the second session, bringing up his half-century. However, those plans were thwarted soon as Zimbabwe inflicted another collapse in a three-wicket session. Much to Bangladesh’s dismay, all three came in a cluster as they went down to 132/6.

Muzarabani had his third when he pinned Mushfiqur Rahim lbw for 11, while Shakib al Hasan, erasing the expectations of assisting in the rebuild as a senior, nicked Victor Nyauchi behind for three. The tumbling stopped only for a while, but not too long, with Nyauchi removing the skipper for a 92-ball 70.

Das, Mahmuddullah rescue 

While the probability of Bangladesh succumbing to a toothless score loomed, Liton and Mahmdullah joined forces to drag the team out of some serious peril, adding six more than what the previous five partnerships had put combined (132). The duo’s record 256-ball 138-run stand for the seventh wicket was thanks to their cunning exploitation of the tiredness that had begun to dominate the bowlers as the day wore on.

Zimbabwe found a dose of adrenaline after long toil when Das, only five short of his maiden Test ton, fell to Donald Tiripano, who then struck on the immediately succeeding delivery to claim Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a duck to bring his team back into the fray. Mahmudullah, who brought up his 17th half-century in a hard-fought knock, stood unbeaten on 54 alongside Taskin Ahmed before bad light cut the play seven overs short.