Zimbabwe pulled off a sensational three-wicket win over Bangladesh on the fourth day of the first Test in Sylhet on Wednesday, chasing down a record target to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Pacer Blessing Muzarabani led the way with a career-best performance, taking six for 72 in the second innings and finishing with match figures of nine for 122.
It marked his third consecutive five-wicket haul in Tests – a first for a Zimbabwean fast bowler – and tied Heath Streak’s record as the fastest Zimbabwean to 50 Test wickets.
Rain delayed the start of play by over an hour, but Zimbabwe made quick work of Bangladesh’s lower order, bowling out the hosts for 255 after they resumed on 194 for four.
Muzarabani struck early, removing overnight batter Najmul Hossain Shanto for 60 with a short ball that was skied to deep fine leg, where Victor Nyauchi took a sharp diving catch.
Jaker Ali offered resistance with 58 off 111 balls, adding 35 for the eighth wicket with Hasan Mahmud (12), but Zimbabwe’s bowlers chipped away steadily.
Wellington Masakadza claimed two wickets in two balls to remove Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed, before Muzarabani returned to dismiss Ali and end the innings.
Set 174 to win, Zimbabwe made a flying start as openers Brian Bennett (54) and Ben Curran (44) put on 95 in 21 overs, batting with confidence and intent.
But offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz sparked a collapse, finishing with five for 70.
He removed both openers and later dismissed middle-order mainstays Sean Williams (9) and Craig Ervine (10), as Zimbabwe stumbled to 145 for six.
Wessly Madhevere, playing just his fourth Test, kept his composure under pressure.
He weathered a nervy start and, after Wellington Masakadza fell for 12 with 13 runs still needed, guided the chase with patience and maturity.
A late boundary from Richard Ngarava lifted Zimbabwe closer before Madhevere sealed the win with a reverse sweep for four off Miraz, finishing unbeaten on 19.
The chase surpassed Zimbabwe’s previous highest successful fourth-innings effort – 162 against Pakistan in 1998 – and marked just their fifth overseas Test victory.
The second and final Test against Bangladesh begins next week in Chattogram, with Zimbabwe aiming for a rare series win on foreign soil.
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