BAN vs ZIM 2025, 1st Test Day 1 Review: Zimbabwean bowlers wreak havoc before openers peg Bangladesh back

Zimbabwe. (Photo source: X/Zimbabwe Cricket)

Zimbabwe had a fantastic outing on Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, April 20.

won the toss and opted to bat first against Craig Ervine and Co. Shadman Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy negotiated the first eight overs without much fuss and added 31 runs. However, they were dismissed in quick succession by Victor Nyauchi.

Mominul Haque and Shanto joined forces and took their team through to the Lunch break by mixing caution with aggression. The start of the second session got delayed due to an annoying spell of rain. However, once the action resumed, Zimbabwe came out all guns blazing with and Richard Ngarava bowling probing spells. The former got the breakthrough for the tourists as he got rid of Shanto, who made a 69-ball 40. The 66-run partnership was broken, and it gave a lot of impetus to the Zimbabweans.

Wickets kept falling at regular intervals as the surface provided a decent amount of assistance for the pacers as well as the spinners. Mominul departed soon after reaching his half-century. The former Bangladesh Test skipper scored 56 off 105 balls after being dropped on 0 by wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo.

Jaker Ali and Hasan Mahmud added some crucial runs down the order before the hosts were bowled out for 191. Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza bagged three wickets apiece. Meanwhile, Nyauchi and Wessly Madhevere picked up two wickets each. Ngarava bowled economically but couldn't open his account.

Brian Bennett and Ben Curran opened the innings for Zimbabwe. The former adopted an aggressive approach as he took the attack to the Bangladeshi bowlers. Meanwhile, Curran was happy biding his time in the middle. Zimbabwe raced to 67/0 in 14.1 overs when the umpires checked the light reading and decided that it was time to take the players off the field.

Zimbabwe captain Ervine will be very happy with how things unfolded on Day 1. The visitors will look to bat long on Day 2 and post a big first-innings score, knowing that they would have to bat last in the Test match.