Zimbabwe enjoyed a near-perfect opening day in the Sylhet Test, bowling out Bangladesh for just 191 before reaching stumps unscathed on 67 without loss. The visitors controlled the day from the outset, with incisive bowling, sharp fielding, and composed batting. In stark contrast, Bangladesh’s ongoing Test match woes resurfaced — this time in front of their home crowd. Here’s a breakdown of what worked for Zimbabwe, and what went wrong for the hosts.
Positives for Zimbabwe
Disciplined bowling attack sets the tone
Zimbabwe’s bowlers delivered a masterclass in persistence and execution. Victor Nyauchi struck in the first hour, dismissing both openers in quick succession. His fourth ball of the match drew Shadman Islam into a loose drive, which Brian Bennett collected with a fine diving catch at gully. Nyauchi followed up with a perfect line to remove Mahmudul Hasan Joy, caught behind for 14.
Blessing Muzarabani was relentless with his bounce and pace. His short-ball strategy paid off handsomely — unsettling Najmul Hossain Shanto and later felling Mehidy Hasan Miraz with a searing delivery. Muzarabani’s 3 for 49 was a reward for consistent hostility and clever variation.
Wellington Masakadza offered a different threat with his left-arm spin, taking 3 for 32 and proving especially dangerous as the ball aged. He removed both Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim at crucial moments — both to soft dismissals that reflected Zimbabwe’s psychological edge.
Sharp fielding and catching elevate the effort
Zimbabwe backed their bowlers brilliantly in the field. Brian Bennett’s sharp catch at gully set the tone, while Wessly Madhevere at point and short midwicket completed regulation chances without fuss. The wicketkeeper, Nyasha Mayavo, was steady apart from one early miss and claimed a smart catch off Mehidy’s glove later on. It was a collective fielding effort that lifted the bowling unit and kept Bangladesh under constant pressure.
Openers show maturity with the bat
Finishing the day with a 67-run opening partnership was the icing on the cake for Zimbabwe. Ben Curran and Brian Bennett looked calm, organised, and untroubled in the 14.1 overs they faced. On a pitch that had troubled Bangladesh’s top order, the pair’s assertiveness and sound technique stood out. They took advantage of loose deliveries, rotated the strike, and ensured Zimbabwe ended the day without any hiccups — a vital psychological advantage going into Day 2.
Concerns for Bangladesh
Recurring batting collapses show no signs of stopping
For the sixth time in their last ten Test innings, Bangladesh failed to breach the 200-run mark — a worrying trend that underscores their current red-ball malaise. From 98 for 2, they lost four wickets for 48 runs in a now-familiar middle-order slump. Despite a five-month break from Test cricket, the same issues — technical flaws, lack of application, and questionable shot selection — returned to haunt them.
Mominul Haque’s 56 was the only substantial contribution. Even then, his dismissal — a loose push to short midwicket — came just when he needed to anchor the innings further. Captain Shanto again failed to convert a start, while experienced campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim fell tamely in Masakadza’s first over. Bangladesh’s batting continues to look brittle under pressure.
Short ball strategy unanswered
Muzarabani’s short-pitched barrage posed problems all day, and Bangladesh had no answers. Shanto, Mehidy, and even the tail all struggled against bounce and pace, often fending awkwardly or playing rash strokes. This weakness has been evident in past series as well, and the lack of adaptation is concerning.
No substantial partnerships built
No partnership crossed 50 runs for Bangladesh. There were moments of recovery — like the 47-run stand between Mominul and Shanto — but none developed into match-defining ones. Every time a pair looked settled, a rash shot or a clever piece of bowling broke the stand. The inability to build meaningful partnerships left the innings disjointed and underwhelming.
Final word
Day 1 firmly belonged to Zimbabwe — a team that came into this series under the radar but played with purpose and clarity. Their bowlers executed well-thought-out plans, the fielding unit supported them flawlessly, and the openers laid a strong foundation.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, looked undercooked and lacking direction. Their struggles with the bat continue to overshadow moments of promise, and unless their key players step up, the hosts risk letting this Test — and potentially the series — slip away.
Zimbabwe are just 124 runs behind with all ten wickets in hand. If they can build a solid first-innings lead, a famous away victory might be on the cards. For Bangladesh, Day 2 is all about damage control — and rediscovering their lost Test match rhythm.