After a disappointing loss in the first Test against Zimbabwe, hosts Bangladesh faced heavy criticism. With the series on the line, the Tigers responded emphatically in Chittagong, clinching the second Test by an innings and 106 runs with two days to spare. Mehidy Hasan Miraz starred with a brilliant all-round performance to secure the victory.
Despite the win, captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto remained cautious in his praise.
“I’m not really happy,” Shanto said during the post-match press conference on Wednesday. “If you look at both matches, we didn’t play the kind of cricket we should have. We should have won the series. We didn’t perform well in the first Test but managed to come back in the second.”
Reflecting on individual performances, he added, “Taijul [Islam] Bhai bowled well in this match after a tough first game. The opening partnership looked promising Sadman [Islam] scored a solid century, and [Enamul Haque] Bijoy, despite not scoring big, batted well considering his return after a long break. This is a good starting point for us in the opening slot, but we need to maintain consistency.”
“What pleased me most,” Shanto continued, “was Shakib’s [Tanzim Hasan] batting today. He batted really well. I’ve seen Taijul Bhai hang in there many times as a tail-ender, but Shakib’s knock was particularly impressive.”
Spinners Shine as Bangladesh Level Series Against Zimbabwe
Bangladesh’s spinners dominated the Chittagong Test, claiming 18 of Zimbabwe’s 20 wickets across both innings. Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto praised their consistent contributions, noting the long-standing impact of spin in Bangladesh’s success.
“I think the spinners have done well they always have,” said Shanto. “They’ve been delivering for 10-15 years. I don’t want to add extra pressure on them. Now, with the pacers also performing, the burden on the spinners has eased. I’m not worried about them at all.”
Bangladesh needed to bat only once in the match. Powered by centuries from Shadman Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the hosts posted a commanding 444 in their first innings. Earlier, Zimbabwe had been dismissed for 227, handing Bangladesh a 217-run lead. In the second innings, the visitors collapsed for just 111, as the Tigers secured a dominant victory by an innings and 106 runs to level the two-match series 1-1.