Bangladesh 25 runs behind Zimbabwe after Day 2 despite Miraz 5-for

Mehidy Hasan Miraz has returned a rip-roaring five-wicket haul but it has not been enough for the Tigers as they were left trailing Zimbabwe by 25 runs in their second innings at the end of the second day of the opening Test.

After bundling out Zimbabwe for 273, Mahmudul Hasan Joy (28) and Mominul Haque (15) pushed Bangladesh 57 for 1 at stumps at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Zimbabwe started the day off on the wrong foot by losing quick wickets, but Sean Williams (59) posted a recovery in the second session amid a fightback by the hosts.

After helping the visitors go past Bangladesh’s 191-run first-innings total and into the lead in the second session, Williams fell and Bangladesh began chipping away at Zimbabwe’s wickets, with Miraz (5-52) proving to be lethal.

After losing Sean Williams (59), Zimbabwe rode Nyasha Mayavo’s 35 to move past 200, but Miraz had other plans.

Mayavo went down and cleared his front leg targeting the square leg but Miraz struck him in front to get his man, before Wellington Masakadza (6) perished to the offspinner moments later.

Blessing Muzarabani (17) and Richard Ngarava (28) then stretched the lead to 82 runs before Miraz snuffed out the tail for a five-wicket haul at home after nearly two and a half years.

Earlier, Williams’ resolute half-century gave Zimbabwe the foundation to pull ahead of Bangladesh in the first innings, but he could not see his team through the second session.

He launched Miraz down the ground but Mahmudul Hasan Joy pulled off a fine diving catch at long-on to send him packing as the Eagles headed into the tea break on 214 for 6.

Zimbabwe resumed on an overnight 67 for no loss after dominating the Tigers on the first day. Bangladesh fought back early in the second day with four wickets, and later two more an hour into the second session.

Fast bowler Nahid Rana (3-52) struck almost immediately after play began in the day to take out Ben Curran (18) with a short ball, thanks to a superb low effort from Mominul Haque at short leg.

Brian Bennett reached his half-century to provide impetus but his fluent 64-ball 57 came to an end off an outside edge behind the wicket, also undone by a Rana bouncer.

After Hasan Mahmud (1-17) uprooted Nick Welch’s stumps for just 2, Williams added 41 with skipper Craig Ervine (8). But Rana returned and had the captain caught behind on review to bring the hosts back into the game as Zimbabwe slumped to 129 for 4.

Williams then paired up with Wessley Madhevere (24) to add 48 runs for the fifth wicket. The pair kept the fielders under pressure, rotating the strike as Zimbabwe recovered, but Khaled Ahmed (1-30) sneaked through the gates of Madhevere to dent their hopes.

A spectacular batting collapse on Day 1 had seen the Tigers bowled out for only 191 runs in the first innings on Sunday.