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The second Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe concluded with a resounding victory for the home side, Bangladesh, who leveled the two-match series 1-1. The architect of this triumph was undoubtedly Mehidy Hasan Miraz, whose exceptional all-round performance earned him the man-of-the-match award and etched his name in the annals of Bangladesh cricket. Mehidy Hasan’s contribution was multifaceted, comprising a well-compiled century in the first innings and a devastating five-wicket haul in Zimbabwe’s second innings. The victory, achieved by an innings and 106 runs, showcased Bangladesh's dominance on their home turf and highlighted the significant improvement in their Test cricket prowess. Going into Day 3, Bangladesh were sitting comfortably at 291 for 7, already in a commanding position. The overnight pair of Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam continued to frustrate the Zimbabwe bowlers, exhibiting resilience and determination. Their partnership not only solidified Bangladesh’s position but also propelled them towards a substantial lead. The first session of the day was particularly productive for the home side, as they accumulated runs with relative ease. Blessing Muzarabani, who had been a key performer for Zimbabwe, found it difficult to contain the batsmen, and Mehidy and Taijul capitalized on any loose deliveries, finding the boundary on multiple occasions. This aggressive approach allowed Bangladesh to surpass the 100-run lead, putting immense pressure on the Zimbabwean batting lineup. The partnership between Mehidy and Taijul eventually came to an end when Vincent Masekesa, who emerged as the most successful bowler for Zimbabwe in the match, managed to dismiss Taijul Islam. However, the damage had already been done, as the duo had added a valuable 63 runs to the total. Mehidy Hasan continued his impressive form, reaching his tenth Test half-century. The Zimbabweans then turned to spin from both ends in an attempt to slow the scoring rate and regain control of the innings. This tactic, however, proved to be ineffective as Mehidy and Tanzim Hasan Sakib took on the spinners, particularly Vincent Masekesa, and plundered boundaries and a six. This onslaught brought an end to Masekesa's nine-over spell. Even though Tanzim Hasan Sakib wasn't primarily focused on hitting boundaries, he contributed significantly by rotating the strike and playing with the turn. This enabled Mehidy to continue his aggressive stroke-play and maintain the momentum of the innings. By lunch, Bangladesh had reached 400, scoring 113 runs in the first session and establishing a firm grip on the match. The post-lunch session saw Mehidy Hasan continue his march towards a century. He survived a close LBW call through the Decision Review System (DRS), highlighting the importance of technology in modern cricket. Vincent Masekesa, who had earlier picked up wickets, was punished for tossing the ball invitingly for the batsmen, with Mehidy hitting him for two boundaries through extra cover. As Mehidy approached his century, he showcased his aggressive intent by pulling Muzarabani to get into the 90s. Zimbabwe's hunt for a breakthrough proved futile as the Bangladesh batsmen continued to pile on the runs. Tanzim Hasan Sakib also contributed significantly, moving into the 40s. However, he eventually perished, his reverse-sweep finding the hands of a fielder. Mehidy Hasan, however, remained unfazed and went on to complete his century, a significant milestone in his Test career. Shortly after reaching his hundred, Mehidy was dismissed by Masekesa, bringing an end to his marathon knock. With Mehidy's dismissal, Bangladesh's innings came to a close at 444. This substantial total placed immense pressure on the Zimbabwean batting lineup, setting the stage for Bangladesh's victory.
In reply to Bangladesh's formidable total, Zimbabwe faltered miserably in their second innings, unable to find any answers against the quality Bangladesh spin attack. The Zimbabwean batsmen struggled to adapt to the conditions and were repeatedly bamboozled by the guile and variation of the spinners. Brian Bennett was the first to depart, nicking behind to Shadman Islam for just six runs. Nick Welch followed soon after, falling to Taijul Islam, the wrecker-in-chief of the first innings. These early wickets set the tone for Zimbabwe's innings, indicating the dominance of the Bangladesh bowlers. After tea, Zimbabwe's woes continued as Sean Williams was caught by Shadman Islam at gully off Nayeem Hasan. At 22 for 3, Zimbabwe were in deep trouble, facing an uphill battle to avoid an innings defeat. The visitors then managed to put together their only significant partnership of the innings, with Ben Curran and Craig Ervine adding 47 runs. The two left-handers showed good resolve against the spinners, grinding out the runs and attempting to stabilize the innings. However, Ervine then threw away his wicket by missing a wild slog that hit the stumps, giving Mehidy Hasan his first wicket of the innings. Wesley Madhevere departed a few balls later, further denting Zimbabwe's hopes of a recovery. With these wickets, Bangladesh were back on top of proceedings, sensing an opportunity to wrap up the match quickly. Mehidy Hasan then continued his destructive spell, pocketing two more wickets before claiming his fifth, that of Curran, with a faint edge to the wicketkeeper. With Curran's dismissal, Zimbabwe's resistance crumbled. Taijul Islam then dismissed Richard Ngarava, and Vincent Masekesa was run out as Bangladesh sealed a comprehensive victory. Zimbabwe simply had no answers against the Bangladesh spinners. They struggled to rotate the strike, build partnerships, and put pressure on the bowlers. The conditions heavily favored spin, and the Bangladesh bowlers exploited this advantage to the fullest.
Mehidy Hasan's exceptional performance was the standout feature of the match, solidifying his position as a key player for Bangladesh. His century in the first innings showcased his batting prowess, while his five-wicket haul in the second innings highlighted his skills as a spinner. Mehidy's ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset to the team and a match-winner in his own right. He was rightly awarded the man-of-the-match for his outstanding contribution. The victory was particularly significant for Bangladesh, as it leveled the two-match series 1-1. This result demonstrates the growing strength of Bangladesh cricket, especially in home conditions. The team has shown significant improvement in recent years and is capable of challenging the best teams in the world. The match also highlighted the importance of spin bowling in Test cricket, especially in subcontinent conditions. The Bangladesh spinners were able to exploit the conditions to their advantage, while the Zimbabwe batsmen struggled to cope with the turn and bounce. This emphasizes the need for batsmen to develop their skills against spin in order to be successful in Test cricket. This victory will provide Bangladesh with a significant boost in confidence as they look ahead to future challenges. The team will be eager to build on this success and continue their upward trajectory in Test cricket. The comprehensive nature of the victory also sends a message to other teams that Bangladesh is a force to be reckoned with in their own backyard. Overall, the second Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe was a memorable encounter, filled with outstanding performances and dramatic moments. Mehidy Hasan's all-round brilliance was the defining factor, leading Bangladesh to a well-deserved victory and leveling the series. The match also provided valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, as well as the evolving landscape of Test cricket. The brief scores of the match were as follows: Bangladesh 444 (Shadman Islam 120, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 104; Vincent Masekesa 5-115) beat Zimbabwe 227 & 111 (Ben Curran 46, Craig Ervine 25; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5-32, Taijul Islam 3-42) by an innings and 106 runs.
Source: Mehidy Hasan fires Bangladesh to series parity with ton and fifer