Bangladesh were bundled out for 140 in their first innings of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, which began on Sunday at the Harare Sports Club.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, the visitors lost both openers within the first hour. Mominul Haque and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto then steadied the innings with a 77-run partnership for the third wicket.
However, the Bangladesh batters had no answer to the bounce and movement generated by the Zimbabwe pacers. Mominul, who scored 60 off 81 balls, edged Newman Nyamhuri to second slip after being squared up by a length delivery. The left-arm quick had earlier dismissed Mahmudul Hasan Joy and later added two more wickets to finish with figures of 4-61 from 12.1 overs.
Following Mominul’s departure, much depended on Shanto, who looked well set at the crease with 19 of 72 balls in his name. However, he tried to take on Brad Evans down the ground and paid the price, edging the ball as Tsiga completed the catch. From there, it was a horror show for Bangladesh.
From 113-2, Bangladesh lost their remaining eight wickets for just 27 runs. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim failed to make an impact, bowled by a superb yorker from Richard Ngarava. Debutants Towhid Hridoy and Amite Hasan managed only three and four runs respectively before falling to Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani.
Bangladesh then lost their final three wickets without adding to the total. The steep bounce, seam movement and occasional extra lift from the red Kookaburra ball proved too much for the visitors.
Nyamhuri finished with four wickets, while Ngarava, Evans and Muzarabani claimed two each as Zimbabwe dominated the opening day.
