Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh 151 runs runs for first away Test win in 17 years

It was a momentous occasion for Zimbabwe cricket yesterday as the visitors romped to their first away Test win since 2001 to beat Bangladesh by 151 runs at Sylhet.

Led by fine efforts from Brandon Mavuta, Sikandar Raza and Kyle Jarvis, Zimbabwe put Bangladesh to the sword on the fourth day of the opening Test to bowl out the hosts for 169 in the second innings.

Having set Bangladesh a daunting fourth innings target of 320 runs, Zimbabwe picked up all of the required 10 wickets on the fourth day to seal a remarkable triumph.

Bangladesh openers Imrul Kayes and Liton Das had given the hosts hope by stitching together a 56-run stand for the opening wicket. That stubborn partnership was finally broken by Raza who trapped Das plumb in front of the wicket.

Jarvis Mominul accounted Haque soon for after before Raza returned to dismiss the well-set Kayes. Raza had his third wicket of the day when he dismissed the dangerous Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah for 16.

However, it was a day which belonged to Zimbabwe debutant Brandon Mavuta who picked up the wicket of Nazmul Hossain on the stroke of lunch to reduce the hosts to 111-5.

Post lunch, accounted for Rahim, Mehidy Mavuta Mushfiqur Hasan and Nazmul Islam as Bangladesh folded inside two sessions on the penultimate day.

Sean Williams was awarded the player-of-the-match for his important 88-run knock which helped Zimbabwe post 282 in their first innings.

This was only the third away Test win in Zimbabwe’s history. Their last win outside of home in this format had come against the same opponents in 2001 at Chittagong with the visitors triumphing by eight wickets on that occasion.