Host Bangladesh’s dominating performance in the second and final Test match to level the series 1-1 was driven from the humiliation of the defeat in the first Test, said Bangladesh stand-in captain Mahmudullah.
Bangladesh were flying high following a 3-0 win in the three-game ODI series but tumbled hard as Zimbabwe beat them by 151 runs in the first Test in Sylhet.
The sheer ignominy of losing the match to a lower-ranked side pushed the Tigers to take a vow of a strong comeback and save the series by winning the second Test.
The side kept true to their words, registering a 218-run victory against the visiting side at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Thursday.
“Everyone wanted Bangladesh to win against Zimbabwe. Credit should be given to them (Zimbabwe), they played very good cricket. We had lack of discipline in the first Test which is vital in Test cricket. But we came out from that, and displayed a better performance in Dhaka”, said Mahmudullah after the game.
Player of the Match : .@mushfiqur15 ? pic.twitter.com/Hn5KbkGkc7
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) November 15, 2018
“I had said following the first Test that the whole team, including the management, were determined of a strong comeback. We were deeply hurt after losing the first Test and wanted to come over it with performance on the field. I believe we have been able to meet some of that ambition,” he added.
Bangladesh’s defeat in the first game was triggered by a below-par performance from the batting unit.
The Tigers were all-out under 200 runs in both the innings and continued their awful record of getting bundled out below that mark for the eighth consecutive innings in Tests.
Despite finishing 1-1 in the series against a lower-ranked side, Mahmudullah believes his team have all the rights to enjoy and celebrate the win.
“You should always be happy when you win a game. You have the right to express that happiness when you win a game. I think it is us who become saddest here in the dressing room when we lose a game. No one sees us crying and we don’t go on telling people that,” said the right-arm all-rounder.
Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 218 runs in the 2nd Test. #BANvZIM pic.twitter.com/hrVuUlIG97
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) November 15, 2018
A dejected Mahmudullah following a disastrous performance and the defeat in the first game had said there’s “no point in playing Test cricket like this”.
The right-handed batsman, who was key behind Bangladesh’s revival in the second innings playing an unbeaten 101-run knock, said, “If we keep on playing the way it was in the first game, there is no point. But if we can maintain and show the mentality that was present in the second game, it is a different scenario.”
Mahmudullah said he would have been happier to keep the series trophy to himself rather than sharing it.
The right-arm all-rounder with the win registered his first win as Bangladesh Test captain.
“We were horrible in the first game. We had come into this series with the aim of winning both the games. We always look to win matches at home, let it be against Zimbabwe, Australia or any other team, and be it in any format. That is why I am not much happy sharing the trophy,” said Mahmudullah.
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
