News Flash
DHAKA, April 20, 2025 (BSS) - In a stellar allround show, Mehidy Hasan Miraz hit a scintillating century and followed it with a five-for as Bangladesh crushed Zimbabwe by an innings and 106 runs in the second and final cricket Test at Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram today.
Having completed the victory inside three days, Bangladesh avoided an ignominious series whitewash after losing the first cricket Test by three wickets.
Miraz became the third Bangladeshi player after Shakib Al Hasan and Sohag Gazi and 39th overall in world cricket to score a century and five-for in the same match.
He struck 104, his second century that guided Bangladesh to 444 before being all out and take 217 runs lead.
During the course of his tremendous century, Miraz became the sixth fastest to reach the club of 2000 runs and 200 wickets.
However, he followed the century with 5-32, his third five-wicket in last two tests, as Zimbabwe were folded for 111 in 46.2 overs in an extended last session of Day 3.
The visitors were wrapped up for 227 in its first innings.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam who claimed 6-60 in the first innings, ended with 3-42.
On an increasingly deteriorating pitch, the two spinners tormented Zimbabwe batters, turning the ball viciously right from the start.
They asked the questions repeatedly varying the pace and length along with turning it past the visiting batters, who looked jaded and out-of-sort against those quality spin display.
Opener Ben Curran was the only one to make some resistance. He scored 46 before being eighth batter out.
Skipper Craig Ervine made 25 and Wellington Masakadza was the other to reach double digits with 10. Three batters of Zimbabwe were out for duck in the innings to further extend the agony.
Earlier, Miraz led the lower order astutely after Bangladesh resumed the Day 3 on 191-7 and with 64 runs lead.
He was the last batter out when Zimbabwe legspinner Vincent Masekesa (5-115) got rid of him to complete his five-for on debut.
Bangladesh were not at dominant position despite the lead given the lower order's vulnerability to resist the opponents for a long time.
But Taijul Islam and debutant Tanzim Hasan Sakib batted with caution and aggression to give Miraz a handy support as Bangladesh gained a lead that appeared to be match-winning.
Taijul scored 20 and added 63-run with Miraz before Masekesa got the better of him.
Miraz thereafter shared a 96-run partnership with Tanzim for the ninth wicket, taking the lead past 200.
Wessley Madhevere broke the threatening partnership by dismissing Tanzim who threw away his wicket by playing a premediated reverse-sweep.
Tanzim played like a genuine batter to add 41 off 80 with two fours and one six.
Tanzim's dismissal left Miraz in limbo for his century as Hasan Mahmud had no reputation as a batter.
However he raised his century from 143 balls, after clipping Wessley Madhevere past short fine leg for a single.
Soon after a tired shot against Masekesa's slower delivery cost his wicket as Bangladesh's innings came to an end.
Earlier, in the first Test, Miraz took a 10-wicket haul but couldn't resist Bangladesh's three-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe.
