Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 220 runs in the Test match at Harare Sports Club. It was Bangladesh’s fifth overseas victory in Test cricket and the first since 2017.
Zimbabwe resumed Day 5 on 140/3, with Donald Tiripano (7*) and Dion Myers (18*) in middle. They needed another 337 to win or bat out the rest of the day. Both seemed unlikely after they lost four wickets in the morning session. It all happened in quick time as Zimbabwe stumbled from 159/3 to 164/7.
Myers (26), Timycen Maruma, Roy Kaia and Regis Chakabva all departed cheaply. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4-66) and Taskin Ahmed (4-82) got two scalps each in this short period, but the job was still not over. They took another 33.4 overs to pick up the last three wickets.
Tripano, Victor Nyauchi and Blessing Muzarabani were the architectures of Zimbabwe’s valiant fightback. Tripano and Nyauchi (10) batted 15.2 overs before the latter fell to Taskin.
Tripano and Muzarabani then extended the time of survival for another 13.4 overs. But once Tripano’s spirited 144-ball 52 came to an end to Ebadot Hossain (1-39), in the 90th over, there was a little contest left in the game.
Mehidy hit the final blow by dismissing Richard Ngarava (10 in 27) in the 95th over to hand Bangladesh a convincing win. Muzarabani was left stranded on 30, off 51 balls.
Mahmudullah, who announced his retirement from Test Cricket to his teammates after Day 3 of the game, was adjudged Player of the Match for his unbeaten 150 in the first innings.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 468 (Mahmudullah 150; Blessing Muzarabani 4-94) and 284/1 decl. (Najmul Hossain Shanto 117*; Richard Ngarava 1-36) beat Zimbabwe 276 (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 87; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5-82) and 256 (Brendon Taylor 92; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-66) by 220 runs. Player of the Match: Mahmudullah.