Lalchand: Win will revive Zimbabwe cricket

Zimbabwe head coach Lalchand Rajput believes his side’s remarkable win against host Bangladesh in the first of the two-match Test series will be the start of a new journey for cricket in the African nation. Zimbabwe had gone into the game at the Sylhet International Stadium as the underdog but came off with a sensational performance to seal a 151-run victory against the home team.

Zimbabwe registered their first win in an away Test in 17 years and their first win in five years. The last time Zimbabwe celebrated a Test victory was in 2013 when they defeated Pakistan in Harare by 23 runs. Since then, the African side has conceded 11 defeats and drawn one game in the longest format of the game.

"This will definitely revive Zimbabwean cricket. We have started believing that we can not only win at home, but we can win abroad as well. This is the first step and we need to kick on from here. The way we came back after the ODI series 3-0 whitewash, we were really prepared for it. I’m happy that the boys have done justice to their talent. It’s a great day for us,’’ said Lalchand to the media in Sylhet on Tuesday.

The former India cricketer Lalchand credited the Zimbabwe cricketers for making the winning effort despite the biggest of the Test playing nations struggling in Bangladeshi conditions. Zimbabwe were patient and watchful with both bat and ball to achieve victory in three-and-half-days of play.

"Even big Test playing countries come here and struggle to beat Bangladesh in Bangladesh. It’s a huge win for us, psychologically,” Rajput claimed.

"Teams around the world will know that Zimbabwe is getting back to being the team they were earlier. If you look at Zimbabwean cricket in the 90s, they had a fantastic team. This win will definitely revive that, bring the confidence of players, and I think it’s a great thing for the Zimbabwe board, because the board has really persisted with these players. They have been patient, and now the day has come. I’m sure everyone back home, the Zimbabwe board, the public and the whole country will be proud of this,’’ he added.  

ZIMBABWE 1ST INNINGS R B

Masakadza lbw b Jayed        52    105

Chari b Taijul                 13    31

Taylor c Shanto b Taijul         6    15

Williams c Miraz b Mahmudullah    88    173

Raza b Nazmul             19    52

Moor not out                            63    192

Chakabva c Shanto b Taijul                     28    85

Wellington c Mushfiq b Taijul                 4    28

Mavuta lbw b Nazmul                     3    14

Jarvis c Miraz b Taijul                         4    9

Chatara c Liton b Taijul                     0    1

Extras (b 1, lb 1)                        2 

Total (117.3 Overs)                        282 all out 

Fall Of Wickets

1-35 (Chari), 2-47 (Taylor), 3-85 (Masakadza), 4-129 (Raza), 5-201 (Williams), 6-261 (Chakabva), 7-268 (Wellington), 8-273 (Mavuta), 9-282 (Jarvis), 10-282 (Chatara)

Bowling

Jayed 21-3-68-1, Taijul 39.3-7-108-6, Ariful 4-1-7-0, Miraz 27-8-45-0, Nazmul 23-6-49-2, Mahmudullah 3-0-3-1

BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS R B

Liton c Chakabva b Jarvis    9    25

Imrul b Chatara        5    13

Mominul c Masakadza b Raza    11    38

Shanto c Chakabva b Chatara    5    5

Mahmudullah b Chatara    0    2

Mushfiq c Chakabva b Jarvis    31    54

Ariful not out            41    96

Miraz c & b Williams        21    33

Taijul c Chakabva b Raza    8    24

Nazmul c Chari b Raza        4    15

Jayed run out (Chatara)    0    1

Extras (b 7, lb 1)        8 

Total (51 Overs)        143 all out 

Fall Of Wickets

1-8 (Imrul), 2-14 (Liton), 3-19 (Shanto), 4-19 (Mahmudullah), 5-49 (Mominul), 6-78 (Mushfiq), 7-108 (Miraz), 8-131 (Taijul), 9-143 (Nazmul), 10-143 (Jayed)

Bowling

Jarvis 11-2-28-2, Chatara 10-4-19-3, Mavuta 6-0-27-0, Raza 12-2-35-3, Wellington 8-2-21-0, Williams 4-0-5-1

ZIMBABWE 2ND INNINGS R    B

Masakadza lbw b Miraz                    48    104

Chari b Miraz                            4    33

Taylor c Imrul b Taijul                         24    25

Williams b Taijul                         20    65

Raza b Taijul Islam                        25    30

Moor c Liton b Taijul                         0    1

Chakabva c Mahmudullah b Nazmul                 20    65

Wellington lbw b Miraz                    17    60

Mavuta c Ariful b Nazmul                     6    4

Jarvis not out                            1    3

Chatara lbw b Taijul                         8    4

Extras (b 4, lb 4)                        8 

Total (65.4 Overs)                        181 all out 

Fall Of Wickets

1-19 (Chari), 2-47 (Taylor), 3-101 (Masakadza), 4-121 (Williams), 5-121 (Moor), 6-130 (Raza), 7-165 (Wellington), 8-172 (Chakabva), 9-173 (Mavuta), 10-181 (Chatara)

Bowling

Taijul 28.4-8-62-5, Nazmul 6-1-27-2, Jayed 7-1-25-0, Miraz 19-7-48-3, Mahmudullah 4-1-7-0, Mominul 1-0-4-0

BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS OVERNIGHT 26/0 IN 10.1 OVERS    R    B

Liton lbw b Raza                            23    75

Imrul b Raza                                43    103

Mominul b Jarvis                            9    13

Mahmudullah c sub (Ervine) b Raza                    16    45

Shanto c Raza b Mavuta                        13    32

Mushfiq c Wellington b Mavuta                    13    44

Ariful c Chakabva b Wellington                    38    37

Miraz c Chakabva b Mavuta                        7    15

Taijul c Taylor b Wellington                        0    3

Nazmul lbw b Mavuta                            0    1

Jayed not out                                0    11

Extras (b 5, lb 2)                            7 

Total (63.1 Overs)                            169 all out 

Fall Of Wickets

1-56 (Liton), 2-67 (Mominul), 3-83 (Imrul), 4-102 (Mahmudullah), 5-111 (Shanto), 6-132 (Mushfiq), 7-150 (Miraz), 8-151 (Taijul), 9-155 (Nazmul), 10-169 (Ariful)

Bowling

Jarvis 14-5-29-1, Chatara 9-2-25-0, Raza 17-1-41-3, Williams 8-2-13-0, Mavuta 10-2-21-4, Wellington 5.1-0-33-2

Zimbabwe won by 151 runs

MoM: Sean Williams