Bangladesh make history with Test victory against Zimbabwe
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

CHITTAGONG (Bangladesh): Little-known spinner Enamul Haque grabbed six wickets as Bangladesh won their maiden Test, thrashing Zimbabwe by 226 runs on the fifth and final day of the first Test.

The dream came true for Bangladesh when left-arm spinner Haque had last Zimbabwean batsman Christopher Mpofu caught by Mohammad Ashraful at silly-point in the afternoon session to trigger wild celebrations on and off the field on Monday.

Zimbabwe, playing their first match after their Test programme was suspended in June for fielding weak sides following a row between their cricket board and regular white players, were shot out for 154 chasing an improbable 381-run victory target.

The Bangladeshi cricketers hugged each other and danced, with skipper Habibul Bashar leading his team-mates on a victory lap in front of delirious fans.

Bangladesh had waited more than four years and 34 Tests for this memorable moment, having lost 31 of their previous matches since gaining Test status in 2000. The remaining three games — two against Zimbabwe and one against the West Indies — were drawn.

Bangladesh’s unlikely hero was 18-year-old Haque who finished with 6-45, the best by a Bangldeshi bowler in Test cricket. He troubled all the Zimbabwean batsmen on a wearing fifth-day pitch with his turn and shrewd variations. Middle-order batsman Hamilton Mazakadza, who played his last Test in November 2002, alone offered some resistance to the Bangladeshi attack as he slammed a solid 56 for his second half-century in eight matches.

But his team-mates failed to cope with Haque, who had ensured Bangladesh’s historic victory with three big wickets in the morning session.

Zimbabwe, needing a minimum of 90 overs to save the match, floundered in the first session when they lost Brendan Taylor (44), skipper Tatenda Taibu (nought) and Masakadza after resuming at 46-3.

Man-of-the-match Haque struck the first blow when he removed Taylor, who was trapped leg-before offering no stroke to a delivery that spun in. He hit six fours in his 73-ball knock.

Zimbabwe’s hopes then rested on in-form Taibu, who had scored a gutsy 92 in the first innings. But the Zimbabwean skipper failed to repeat his performance as he was caught by Aftab Ahmed at short-leg for no score.

Haque then got the crucial wicket when he dived to his right to bring off a low return catch to dismiss well-set Masakadza, who hit eight fours.

The spinner continued to weave a magic spell and completed his five-wicket haul with the scalp of Graeme Cremer, who was caught by Rajin Saleh at silly mid-off.

Fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza also chipped in, having Elton Chigumbura caught by wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud and then removing Mluleki Nkala to finish with 2-45.●