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