DHAKA, April 28, 2025 (BSS) - Nick Welch batted resolutely against Bangladesh's three-pronged spin attack to help Zimbabwe reach 89-2 at lunch on Day 1 of the second and final cricket Test at Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram today.

The spinners got the turn and bounce aplenty right from the beginning, much to the despair of the visiting batters but Welch's calculative batting denied Bangladesh more than two wickets.

Welch was batting on 32 after hitting two fours and as many sixes at the first interval of the day with experienced Sean Williams on 6.

Openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran were the two wickets fallen in the morning session after scoring identical 21 runs.

The openers were solid against the pacers, rotating the scoreboard with ease but pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib gave the side a breakthrough in the 11th over by dismissing Bennett for his debut wicket.

Bennet who scored half-centuries in both innings of the first test edged a three-quarter length delivery that carried extra bounce to baffle him.

As the spinners were introduced, Zimbabwe batters appeared to be in utter discomfort.

But the exception was Welch who dared to step out of the crease for several occasions with an aim to dominate the spinners.

He hit both Miraz and Taijul sixes but both of the spinners induced edges several times.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam's relentlessness got him the wicket when he turned one past sharply to get the better of Curran for 21.

Curran earlier was dropped by Shadman on 13 when he edged a tossed up delivery of Mehidy Hasan Miraz to first slip but he failed to make it count.

Willams gave Welch a handy support to go into the lunch without further damage.