Bangladesh leveled the two-match Test series 1-1- against visiting Zimbabwe after securing a 218-run win in the second and final Test in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Thursday.
Zimbabwe resumed day five at 76 for the loss of two wickets in 30 overs as both of their openers Hamilton Masakadza and Brain Chari lost their wickets late on the previous day.
Zimbabwe had the target of 443 to win but batting out the whole day for a draw would have been enough for them to seal a historic series victory.
In that regard, the visitor took a stubborn stance but Bangladesh were able to draw first blood in the ninth over of the day when left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman cleaned up Sean Williams (13).
The left-hander missed the line and lost his off stump off an impressive off-cutter from Mustafizur.
Bangladesh's Taijul Islam was named player of the series Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
All-rounder Sikandar Raza was the next man to go for Zimbabwe as the right-hander was caught and bowled by in-form left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.
Raza scored only 12.
However, the experienced Brendon Taylor was batting confidently at the other end and formed a 46-run partnership with Peter Moor for the sixth wicket to frustrate the Tigers.
Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz made the crucial breakthrough just after lunch as Moor’s catch was taken at silly mid on by Imrul Kayes.
The score was 186/5 and the Tigers were sniffing blood with the late-order exposed.
Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged player of the match Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
And they utilised the final day of the Mirpur pitch as they wrapped up the tail to bundle out Zimbabwe for 224.
Regis Chakava (10), Brandon Mavuta (nought) and Kyle Jarvis (nine) were not able to give support to Taylor, who scored a belligerent century and remained not out.
Last batsman Tendai Chatara did not come to bat as he was injured and carried away by a stretcher after pulling his muscle earlier in the game.
In the end, Taylor had to face the defeat of his side but that could not take away one of his finest Test performances as he finished on 106 following his ton in the first innings.
The twin centuries of the 32-year old in the end went in vain but he once again proved his skills against spin.
Congratulations to Mehidy Hasan Miraz for picking up his fifth 5-wicket haul in Tests. #BANvZIM pic.twitter.com/ZHPEigghJX
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) November 15, 2018
Taylor scored 10 boundaries in his stubborn 167-ball knock.
On the other hand, Miraz’s 5/38 in 18.1 overs proved to be pivotal and he got good support from Taijul, who got five-for in the first innings, as the left-arm spinner bagged two wickets.
Zimbabwe wicket-keeper Chakabva was run out and Mustafizur was the only non-spinner to get a wicket though his new-ball partner, debutant Khaled Ahmed bowled his heart out only to remain wicket less due to butter fingers of the fielders.
With seven scalps in the match, Taijul took his tally in the series to 18, just one shy of Bangladesh’s record.
Miraz holds the record of taking 19 wickets in a two-match series when he achieved the feat against England at home in 2016.
Player of the Series : Taijul Islam. #BANvZIM pic.twitter.com/FIJEedvTnk
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) November 15, 2018
However, despite the heroics of the Bangladesh spinners and Taylor, stumper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged man of the match for his superb double hundred in the first innings that helped the Tigers put on a huge total on the board.
Taijul was adjudged man of the series.
TIGERS’ TEST WINS
Margin Opp Venue Year
218 runs Zim Dhaka 2018
20 runs Aus Dhaka 2017
4 wickets SL Colombo 2017
108 runs Eng Dhaka 2016
186 runs Zim Chittagong 2014
162 runs Zim Khulna 2014
3 wickets Zim Dhaka 2014
143 runs Zim Harare 2013
4 wickets WI St George’s 2009
95 runs WI Kingstown 2009
226 runs Zim Chittagong 2005
MOST RUNS
Player Inns Runs Ave
Mushfiqur Rahim 4 270 90
Brendan Taylor 4 246 82
Mominul Haque 4 182 45.5
MOST WICKETS
Taijul Islam 4 18 20.5
Mehedi Miraz 4 11 17.45
Kyle Jarvis 4 10 15.5
2ND TEST
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS R B
Liton c Mavuta b Jarvis 9 35
Imrul c Chakabva b Jarvis 0 16
Mominul c Chari b Chatara 161 247
Mithun c Taylor b Jarvis 0 4
Mushfiq not out 219 421
Taijul c Chakabva b Jarvis 4 10
Mahmudullah c Chakabva b Jarvis 36 110
Ariful c Chari b Jarvis 4 18
Miraz not out 68 102
Extras (b 9, lb 8, nb 3, w 1) 21
Total (160 Overs) 522/7d
Fall Of Wickets
1-13 (Imrul), 2-16 (Liton), 3-26 (Mithun), 4-292 (Mominul), 5-299 (Taijul), 6-372 (Mahmudullah), 7-378 (Ariful)
Bowling
Jarvis 28-6-71-5, Chatara 22.2-12-34-1, Tiripano 24.4-6-65-1, Raza 22-1-111-0, Williams 30-4-80-0, Mavuta 31-1-137-0, Masakadza 2-0-7-0
ZIMBABWE 1ST INNINGS R B
Masakadza c Miraz b Taijul 14 44
Tiripano c Miraz b Taijul 8 46
Taylor c Taijul b Miraz 110 194
Williams b Taijul 11 28
Raza b Taijul 0 12
Moor lbw b Ariful 83 114
Chakabva c Mominul b Taijul 10 42
Mavuta c Ariful b Miraz 0 2
Jarvis not out 9 23
Chatara absent hurt - -
Extras (b 5, lb 1) 6
Total (105.3 Overs) 304
Fall Of Wickets
2-40 (Tiripano), 3-96 (Chari), 4-129 (Williams), 5-131 (Raza), 6-270 (Moor), 7-290 (Taylor), 8-290 (Mavuta), 9-304 (Chakabva)
Bowling
Mustafizur 21-8-58-0, Khaled 18-7-48-0, Taijul 40.3-10-107-5, Miraz 20-3-61-3, Mahmudullah 2-0-14-0, Ariful 4-2-10-1
BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS R B
Liton b Jarvis 6 14
Imrul c Mavuta b Jarvis 3 12
Mominul c Chakabva b Tiripano 1 5
Mithun c Chakabva b Raza 67 110
Mushfiq c Mavuta b Tiripano 7 19
Mahmudullah not out 101 122
Ariful b Williams 5 8
Miraz not out 27 34
Extras (b5, lb1, w1) 7
Total (54 overs) 224/6d
Fall Of Wickets
1-10 (Imrul), 2-10 (Liton), 3-10 (Mominul), 4-25 ( Liton), 5-143 ( Mithun), 6-151 (Ariful)
Bowling
Jarvis 11-2-27-2, Tiripano 11-1-31-2, Williams 16-2-69-1 (w1), Raza 7-0-39-1, Mavuta 9-0-52-0
ZIMBABWE 2ND INNINGS R B
Masakadza c Mominul b Miraz 25 68
Chari lbw b Taijul 43 82
Taylor not out 106 167
Williams b Mustafizur 13 33
Raza c & b Taijul 12 33
Moor c Imrul b Miraz 13 79
Chakabva run out (Mominul/Mushfiq) 2 8
Tiripano c Liton b Miraz 0 9
Mavuta c Taijul b Miraz 0 11
Jarvis c Khaled b Miraz 1 9
Chatara absent hurt - -
Extras (b 1, lb 3, w 5) 9
Total 224 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-68 (Masakadza), 2-70 (Chari), 3-99 (Williams), 4-120 (Raza), 5-186 (Moor), 6-199 (Chakabva), 7-201 (Tiripano), 8-213 (Mavuta), 9-224 (KM Jarvis, 83.1 ov)
Bowling
Mustafizur 10-2-19-1, Taijul 37-5-93-2, Khaled 12-4-45-0, Miraz 18.1-5-38-5, Ariful 3-1-7-0, Mahmudullah 1-0-1-0, Mominul 2-0-17-0
Bangladesh won by 218 runs, level series 1-1
MoM: Mushfiqur Rahim
MoS: Taijul Islam
