Young spinner Nayeem Hasan’s brilliant four-wicket haul puts Bangladesh on top over Zimbabwe after day one of the first Test match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine struck a ton as the tourists reach 228/6 after the end of day one.
Nayeem was the star of the show for the Tigers, he bowled 36 overs on the day, bagged four wickets for 68 runs with some very good flighted deliveries while he kept the batsman guessing with his drifters. Pacer Abu Jayed, who started proceedings brightly for the Tigers, finished with two for 51.
After winning the toss, Zimbabwe skipper Ervine elected to bat. Zimbabwe managed a cautious star. At lunch, Zimbabwe were batting at 80/1 in 30 overs.
Ervine and Masvaure put the pressure on Bangladesh, keeping them unscathed through the first session. The only wicket Zimbabwe lost was taken by Abu Jayed Rahi.
After Launch, Nayeem bowled brilliantly and picked up wickets at regular intervals. He was given a marathon spell, including the whole post lunch session that saw him delivered 32 overs in a row.
Nayeem was ably supported by pace bowler Abu Jayed Rahi’s 2-51 on a day, what looked to have been the Zimbabwe’s day after stand-in captain Ervine kept the side ticking almost throughout the day.
Ervine was dismissed at the penultimate over of the day after hitting 107 off 227, his third Test century, sending the ball across the rope 13 times. With the crucial wicket, Bangladesh exposed the tail of the Zimbabwe, abating the visitors’ complete domination on the opening day of the Test.
