DHAKA, April 28, 2025 (BSS)—Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam weaved his magic to put Bangladesh in the box seat after Zimbabwe seemingly headed toward a big total on a spinning track on Day 1 of the second cricket Test at Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram.

Sean Williams and Nick Welch batted resolutely as Zimbabwe were on top of Bangladesh on larger part of the day before Taijul triggered a sensational collapse that saw the visitors losing seven wickets for 55 runs.

Taijul eventually finished with 5-60, his 16th five-for in Test cricket as Zimbabwe reached 227-9 at stumps.

Sean Williams made team-high 67 while Welch who hit his second fifty in as many Tests, scored 54.

They put 90-run for the third wicket to help Zimbabwe dominate the first two sessions.

Openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran were solid against the pacers after their captain Craig Ervine chose to bat first. They rotated the scoreboard with ease to add 41 runs before pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib gave the side a breakthrough in the 11th over by dismissing Bennett for 21 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 spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam sixes but they induced edges several times to indicate the spin will rule the rooster.

Taijul’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.

Williams and Welch kept the visitors unscathed in the whole second session, putting pressure on Bangladesh immensely as the hosts aimed to avoid a series whitewash following a shock three-wicket defeat in the first Test.

Welch was in aggressive mood initially but as the time progressed he curbed the aggression to value his wicket.

He raised his second Test fifty off 107 balls, punching Taijul Islam past point for a couple of runs.

Williams played patiently throughout for his fifth half-century and brought it up by chopping down a short ball of Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a single from 114 balls.
 
Just after the second session, Welch who was cramping from the morning session, had to retire finally and his departure triggered a collapse.

Offspinner Nayeem Hasan, who grabbed 2-42, initiated it with double strike, dismissing captain Ervine (5) and Williams in his consecutive overs.

Willaims; 166 ball-knock included seven fours and one six.

Taijul tormented Zimbabwe batters further with his arm balls and completed by five-for by dismissing Welch who returned to bat after the fall of eighth wicket.

Welch was able to play just two balls before being out on previous 54, an innings laced with three fours and two sixes.

Tafadzwa Tsiga was batting on 18 with Blessing Muzurabani on 2 at stumps after surviving five tricky overs.