Muzarabani’s nine-for and Madhevere’s nerves of steel power Zimbabwe to first away Test win since 2018

ASHLEY DUBE 

Zimbabwe 273 (Williams 59, Bennett 57, Mehidy 5-52) and 174 for 7 (Bennett 54, Curran 44, Mehidy 5-50) beat Bangladesh 191 (Mominul 56, Shanto 40, Masakadza 3-21, Muzarabani 3-50) and 255 (Shanto 60, Jaker 58, Mominul 47, Muzarabani 6-72) by three wickets

Sylhet, Bangladesh – Zimbabwe pulled off a sensational three-wicket win over Bangladesh in Sylhet, clinching their first away Test victory since 2018 and their highest successful run chase in Test history. Chasing 174 on a tricky fourth-day surface, Zimbabwe overcame a late collapse to go 1-0 up in the two-match series, thanks to a nerveless finish by Wessly Madhevere and a match-winning bowling performance from Blessing Muzarabani.

Image: Zimbabwe Cricket

Muzarabani was the undisputed star of the match, claiming 6 for 72 in the second innings and 9 for 122 in total. His fiery pace and bounce broke Bangladesh’s back, earning him a deserved Player of the Match award. His nine-wicket haul also saw him equal Heath Streak’s record as the fastest Zimbabwean to 50 Test wickets and marked the best-ever match figures by a Zimbabwean in Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe's chase was set up brilliantly by openers Brian Bennett (54) and Ben Curran (44), who put on a rapid 95-run stand in just 21 overs. Bennett’s aggressive knock featured seven boundaries and a six, while Curran’s fluent innings kept the scoreboard ticking. However, once the pair departed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (5 for 50) got into rhythm, Zimbabwe wobbled.

From 127 for 2, they slid to 145 for 6, with Mehidy snatching three wickets in quick succession and reaching his 200th Test scalp in the process. When Wellington Masakadza was bowled for 12 by a peach from Mehidy, the visitors still needed 17 more with just three wickets in hand. The match was in balance, with the Bangladesh spinners building pressure.

But Zimbabwe didn't blink. Richard Ngarava stepped up with a crucial boundary, before Madhevere took charge. He reverse-swept Mehidy for the winning four, sparking jubilant celebrations in the Zimbabwean camp.

Earlier in the day, Muzarabani had triggered a Bangladesh collapse, striking with the second ball of the morning and removing top-scorer Najmul Hossain Shanto for 60. He followed up with wickets of Mehidy and Jaker Ali to seal a six-wicket haul. Ngarava and Victor Nyauchi also chipped in with key breakthroughs, ensuring Bangladesh folded for 255.