Player of the Match
Player of the Match

6pm And...breathe. The result and the emotions that ebbed and flowed in that last hour will take even longer to sink in. But those that watched this game will remember and reminisce over this, and will do so very fondly, as an epic encounter of Test cricket. We hope you enjoyed our coverage throughout these four days and we will be back for more Bangladesh-Zimbabwe action, as these teams take each other on starting Monday. Until then, from Chetan, Harshith, Rashad and myself (Shashwat), this is goodbye. Take care, folks!

5:30pm Wow. What a game of Test cricket. A few hours ago, it seemed that Zimbabwe will coast to victory. Their openers were firing on all cylinders and they were barely batting an eyelid doing so. But then, this game turned. And this game turned just how this beautiful, beautiful format of cricket is meant to.

Bangladesh prised open a window of opportunity and nearly barged through it. But while they were designing plans to shunt through that space, they encountered Madhevere - solid as a rock, and with nerves of pure steel. Despite the carnage and debris around him, he kept his head and found vital cameos from Masakadza and Ngarava along the way, ensuring that Zimbabwe have their first Test win since March 2021, and their first Test victory on these shores since 2018 (also at Sylhet).

Coming back to Bangladesh, they will view this game as a missed chance. Not because of what unfolded in the last couple of hours, but due to what transpired before it. A poor first-innings display left them playing catch-up, and despite Mehidy bagging a ten-wicket haul along the way, and Mominul producing twin fifties, not to mention Shanto's efforts, they just had too much of a mountain to climb.

50.1
4
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Madhevere, FOUR, There it is! Zimbabwe toiled and toiled, made it tougher for themselves and then they toiled a bit more, and now, this zesty and zealous Zimbabwe outfit, has a zeitgeist in this year of years. A stirring win that will be relished and rejoiced in Bulawayo, Harare, Mutare and everywhere in Zimbabwe, and a victory that will be a statement - that they can not just mix it with the established order, but triumph over them too! A famous, famous win, and it has come while veering willingly into the Tigers' den! Flighted up a little, just outside off. Madhevere reads the flight early, picks the length and slams a reverse-sweep through the vacant short third region. Zimbabwe breathe a sigh of relief. They were cruising, until they weren't, but when push really came to shove towards the end, they did just enough to hold their nerve!

Zimbabwe 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st95BJ CurranBJ Bennett
2nd17NR WelchBJ Bennett
3rd15SC WilliamsBJ Bennett
4th1CR ErvineBJ Bennett
5th16CR ErvineW Madhevere
6th1NP MayavoW Madhevere
7th16WP MasakadzaW Madhevere
8th13R NgaravaW Madhevere