Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, 2018: 1st Test – Statistical Highlights

After losing the ODI series 3-0, Zimbabwe bounced back strongly to thrash Bangladesh in the first of the two-match Test series. In the absence of some of the senior batsmen, Bangladesh struggled with the bat in both innings aggregating only 312 runs. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 11 wickets across both the innings to reduce the damage. His second innings five-wicket haul restricted the visitors to 181 but Bangladesh were left to chase 321. Earlier, Zimbabwe made 282 in their first innings with Sean Williams top-scoring with 88. All the major stats and numbers that were recorded during a historic win for Zimbabwe: 1 – Zimbabwe’s win in this Test match is their first outside home since their 8-wicket win in the 2001 Chittagong Test match also against Bangladesh. Overall, this is Zimbabwe’s third away Test win with their first coming against Pakistan in the 1998 Peshawar Test. 1 – This match is the first home game for Bangladesh without either of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan in the playing XI. One of these two players featured in 36 home Test matches since their debuts in late 2006. 6 – Number of catches Regis Chakabva took in this Test match. This is only the 3rd time a Zimbabwe keeper claimed as many catches in a Test match. Wayne James took seven catches in the 1994 Bulawayo Test against Sri Lanka while Richmond Mutumbami grabbed six in the 2013 Harare Test against Bangladesh. 8 – Bangladesh has been dismissed for a total under 200 in their previous eight Test innings. Starting from the Dhaka Test against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh failed to cross 200 in this format and also registered their lowest total of 43. 9 – Ariful Haque became only the 9th player and the 2nd Bangladesh player in Test history to score 30+ runs in both innings on Test debut while batting at No.7. He made 41 in the first innings and 38 in the second innings of this Test. Soumya Sarkar is the other Bangladesh player to achieve this feat. 11/170 – Taijul Islam’s match figures of 11/170 are the 3rd best bowling figures by a Bangladesh player in a Test match. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 12/159 in the 2016 Dhaka Test match against England while Enamul Haque jnr registered figures of 12/200 against Zimbabwe in the 2005. 12 – Zimbabwe’s win in this game was only their 12th win in Test cricket. Their last win in the format came in 2013 against Pakistan in Harare. Between these two wins, Zimbabwe featured in 12 Test matches losing 11 of them.