Zimbabwe Takes Commanding Lead Against Bangladesh in First Test

SYLHET: Half-centuries from Brian Bennett and Sean Williams helped Zimbabwe establish a strong position in their Test match against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Zimbabwe continued their first innings from their overnight score of 67/0, with Bennett and Ben Curran at the crease, in response to Bangladesh’s initial score of 191.

Curran (18) was dismissed by Nahid Rana early on the second day. Following this, Bennett participated in a brief 19-run partnership with Nick Welch. Both batsmen were then dismissed in quick succession, reducing Zimbabwe to 88/3.

Bennett’s innings consisted of 57 runs from 64 balls, including 10 boundaries, while Welch only managed to score two runs.

Following those wickets, Williams contributed a half-century. The veteran partnered with Craig Ervine (8) and Wessly Madhevere (24) before being dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Williams scored 59 runs off 108 balls, including six fours and two sixes, making him Zimbabwe’s highest scorer.

Later, Nyasha Mayavo (35) and Richard Ngarava (28) added valuable runs to help Zimbabwe reach a significant total of 273, securing a lead of 82 runs.

Miraz stood out for Bangladesh, claiming five wickets for 52 runs in 20.2 overs. Rana supported him with three wickets, and Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed each took one.

Bangladesh faced an early setback in their second innings, with Shadman Islam falling for four runs off 10 balls in the fourth over, with the score at 13/1.

However, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mominul Haque formed an unbroken 44-run partnership, bringing Bangladesh to 57/1 at the close of play.

At the end of the second day, Joy remained undefeated on 28, while Haque was 15 not out.

Blessing Muzarabani secured the only wicket for Zimbabwe in Bangladesh’s second innings so far.