Half-centuries from Brian Bennet and Sean Williams and valuable contributions from the lower-order helped Zimbabwe to a lead of 82 runs after they got bundled out for 273 in response to Bangladesh's 191 on Day 2 of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
The visitors started the day at 67 for no loss but Bangladesh pacers Nahid Rana and Hasan Mahmud managed to peg them back.
Bennet managed to reach his fifty (57) and Williams' 59 gave Zimbabwe stability in the middle. However, Rana picked up three wickets and Mahmud scalped one to bring the Tigers back into the contest and Mehedi Hasan Miraz helped remove the tail with a five-wicket haul (5-52) but not before key contributions from Wesley Madhevere (24), Nyasha Mayavo (35), Richard Ngarava (28 not out), and Blessing Muzarabani (17).
Miraz strikes twice but Zimbabwe continue to stretch lead
Bangladesh off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz struck twice after Tea to reduce Zimbabwe to 258–8 after 74 overs on Day 2 of the first Test of the two-match series between the sides at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Miraz got rid of two set batters –- Nyasha Mayavo (54-ball 35) and Wellington Masakadza (42-ball six) –- in consecutive overs but the visitors continued to stretch their lead as Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani put together an unbeaten 35-run stand, taking Zimbabwe ahead by 67 runs.
Muzarabani remained unbeaten on 17, while Ngarava was not out on 20.
Zimbabwe ahead by 22 at Tea
Bangladesh took two more wickets post-lunch, but a half-century from Sean Williams helped Zimbabwe take a 22-run lead as they reached 213-6 at Tea break on Day 2 of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
Williams made 59 off 108 balls before getting caught off Mehedi Hasan Miraz while Khaled Ahmed took the other wicket to fall in the session, which yielded 80 runs for Zimbabwe.
Nyasha Mayavo is unbeaten on 31 off 47 balls alongside Wellington Masakadza (two) at the interval.
Earlier, Zimbabwe began the post-lunch session on 133-4 after losing four wickets in the morning session.
Williams and Wessly Madhevere, who were unbeaten on 33 and four respectively, resumed the innings and batted together for another hour before Khaled broke through the defences of the latter.
Williams looked in control for most of innings before trying to take the aerial route against Miraz only to get caught at long-off.
Zimbabwe were just two runs ahead when Williams departed but Mayavo's counter-attacking knock then ensured the visitors strengthened their lead and go into the Tea break without losing any more wickets.
