Bangladesh rout Zimbabwe by 220 runs in one-off Test
HARARE: Some resolute bating and dropped catches held up Bangladesh before they completed a crushing 220-run win over Zimbabwe on the final day of a one-off Test at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
Needing a world record 477 to win, the hosts were all out for 256 ater brave innings from nightwatchman Donald Tiripano and fast-medium bowler Blessing Muzarabani delayed the tourists’ celebrations.
It was the fith Test victory for Bangladesh outside the country and a fiting send-off for allrounder Mahmudullah Riyad, who is retiring from the longest format ater an unbeaten career-best 150, his fith Test century, in the first innings.
The visitors formed a guard of honour for Mahmudullah, playing his 50th Test since making his debut in 2009, and let him lead the team on to the pitch for the final day, which began with Zimbabwe 140-3. New cap Dion Myers added a further 19 in tandem with Tiripano before Bangladesh made a telling breakthrough.
Myers eked out 26 from 88 balls, a nuggety innings punctuated by two sixes and helped by two dropped chances by wicketkeeper Liton Das and Shakib al Hasan. He was undone by off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, chipping him straight to Shadman Islam at midwicket. The departure of Myers triggered a collapse with his wicket the first of four to fall within 19 balls for the addition of 36 runs as Zimbabwe slumped to 176-7 at lunch.
Timycen Maruma and Roy Kaia were both trapped leg before for ducks and wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva made just one before being bowled by Taskin Ahmed who finished with 4-82.
Tiripano made 52 off 144 balls before edging a good-length delivery from Ebadot Hossain and a diving Das made the catch.
Muzarabani finished unbeaten on 30, having faced 51 balls in 93 minutes and struck four fours.
But Bangladesh completed the victory when Richard Ngarava went for a big slog against Mehidy and lost his middle stump.
Mehidy finished with 4-66 to give him nine wickets in the match.
Scoreboard on Sunday: Bangladesh 1st innings 468 (Mahmudullah Riyad 150 not out; B. Muzarabani 4-94) Zimbabwe 1st innings 276 (T. Kaitano 87, B. Taylor 81; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5-82, Shakib al Hasan 4-82) Bangladesh 2nd innings 284-1 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 117 not out, Shadman Islam 115 not out)
Zimbabwe 2nd innings (overnight 140-3) M Shumba c sub (Yasir Ali) b Taskin 11 T Kaitano lbw b Shakib 7 B Taylor c and b Mehidy 92 D Myers c Shadman b Mehidy 26 D Tiripano c Liton Das b Ebadot 52 T Maruma lbw b Mehidy 0 R Kaia lbw b Taskin 0 R Chakabva b Taskin 1 V Nyauchi c Shakib b Taskin 10 B Muzarabani not out 30 R Ngarava b Mehidy 10 Extras (b5, lb11, nb1) 17
Total (94.4 overs) 256 Bowling: Shakib 25-9-44-1, Mehidy 30.410-66-4, Taskin 24-4-82-4 (1nb), Ebadot 11-2-39-1, Mahmudullah 4-0-9-0
Bangladesh won by 220 runs