Chattogram, April 28, 2025 – A brilliant 5-wicket haul by Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam put Zimbabwe on the back foot as they ended Day 1 of the second Test at 227 for the loss of nine wickets at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The Zimbabwean batting line-up, which had started steadily, was dismantled by a combination of disciplined spin bowling and sharp fielding.
Bangladesh’s bowlers, particularly Taijul Islam, capitalized on a helpful pitch and made an immediate impact after losing the toss. With a history of 500-plus runs in the first innings at this venue in the previous Tests, Zimbabwe’s promising start was quickly stifled. The fall of wickets in quick succession during the third session of the day saw the visitors lose control and collapse dramatically from 161/2 to 227/9.
Zimbabwe’s batsmen Brian Bennett and Ben Curran had initially laid a solid foundation, but both fell to soft dismissals, putting pressure on the middle order. Sean Williams and Nick Welch then provided some stability and guided Zimbabwe through the second session without losing a wicket. However, the scorching heat took a toll on Welch, who was forced to retire hurt at the start of the third session, further denting Zimbabwe’s progress.
The breakthrough Bangladesh had been waiting for came after the departure of Welch, which led to a rapid collapse. Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan, the two key spinners, worked in tandem to unravel Zimbabwe’s batting. Their precise bowling and smart field placements saw Zimbabwe lose seven wickets for just 66 runs. A run-out further compounded Zimbabwe’s troubles and left them struggling to reach a competitive total.
The day ended with Zimbabwe in a perilous position, with much of their hopes now resting on Tafadzwa Tsiga, who had shown resistance with a 59-ball knock. For Bangladesh, this was a remarkable turnaround, and they will be eager to wrap up Zimbabwe’s innings early on Day 2 before turning their attention to building a solid reply with the bat.
The conditions at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium have been challenging, but Bangladesh will be optimistic about their chances on Day 2, knowing they are in a strong position to take control of the match. Zimbabwe, however, must regroup quickly if they are to avoid an even more significant collapse in the second innings.