Zimbabwe skipper Hamilton Masakadza believes his spinners got more purchase off the track than Bangladesh’s bowlers at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, and that played a key role in their side’s first Test victory since September 2013. Spinners Brandon Mavuta, Sikandar Raza and Wellington Masakadza shared nine wickets between them as Zimbabwe thumped Bangladesh by 151 runs in the first Test of the two-match series on Tuesday (November 6).
“I thought the bowlers were brilliant right through, since we’ve landed in Bangladesh. I don’t think they’ve done much wrong. It was great to see our spinners get more out of the surface than Bangladesh’s spinners,” Masakadza said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“The guys worked hard, applied themselves well to put up an excellent total in the first innings. Ecstatic! The guys took time to stay at the wicket and accumulate runs, something we lacked in the ODIs, myself included. The batting performance in the first innings set it up for us.”
Despite Taijul Islam’s six-wicket haul, the visiting team managed 282 runs in their first innings. They then dismissed Bangladesh for 143 but got bundled out for just 181 in their second essay. With 320 runs to defend, Mavuta (4 for 21), Raza (3 for 41) and Wellington Masakadza (2 for 33) spun a web around Bangladesh as they were bowled out for 169 runs.
