Zim loses grip after bright start

Zim Now Writer

A gripping second day of Test cricket in Sylhet saw the momentum swing dramatically as Bangladesh clawed their way back into the contest after Zimbabwe held the early advantage.

With both teams showing flashes of brilliance and moments of vulnerability, the match remains finely poised heading into Day 3.

Resuming on 67 without loss and trailing by 124, Zimbabwe looked set to take control of the match early on.

Openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran extended their solid partnership, but it was Bangladesh who made the first breakthrough of the day. Nahid Rana dismissed Curran for 18, ending a promising 69-run stand.

Bennett remained composed, bringing up his half-century with a well-timed boundary. However, his dismissal triggered a collapse in the top order. By lunch, Zimbabwe had slumped to 133 for 4, still 58 runs behind Bangladesh’s first-innings total.

Despite the early setbacks, Sean Williams stepped up with a defiant 59, anchoring the innings through a shaky middle phase.

Nyasha Mayavo added a valuable 31, but wickets fell steadily as the Bangladeshi bowlers kept the pressure on.

By tea, Zimbabwe had edged ahead to 213 for 6—a slim lead of just 22. Wellington Masakadza, batting at number eight, struggled to hold the line, drawing criticism from fans online. “The fact that Ngarava and Muzarabani can bat better than Masakadza is ridiculous,” tweeted one frustrated supporter.

Others took aim at the soft dismissals of Bennett and Wessly Madhevere, calling on younger players like Joylord Gumbie and Antum Naqvi to raise their game.

The final session saw Zimbabwe’s tail wag, with Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani pushing the total to 263 for 9 before the innings came to a close. Their resistance gave Zimbabwe a 73-run lead—valuable, but arguably below par given the platform they had earlier in the day.

Still, the contributions of the lower order helped steady nerves, even as fans continued to question the application of the top and middle order.

In reply, Bangladesh began their second innings with intent but lost an early wicket. At stumps, they were 52 for 1 after 12 overs, still trailing by 25 runs. With the pitch beginning to show signs of wear and both sides eyeing control, Day 3 is shaping up to be a pressure-filled showdown.

“This is going to be a test of mental strength for Zimbabwe,” said a fan known online as King of Sheba. “They have the ability, but it's a question of belief.”

With both teams having had their moments, the outcome remains far from certain. Zimbabwe will need discipline and belief to press home their slight edge, while Bangladesh will look to their home conditions and deeper batting lineup to tilt the balance in their favor.