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!
Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, 1st Test at Sylhet, BAN vs ZIM, Apr 20 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
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.
angled in on a length just outside off. Ngarava stretches forward and plays the textbook forward defence
One hit will do it for Ngarava and Zimbabwe. But will he take that option?
tossed up full on middle and off. Madhevere pushes it to long off and picks up a single. Just four more needed now
back of a length just outside off. Plenty of extra bounce but Madhevere, because he is watching the ball so closely, can fend it into the ground on the leg side
fired in at the stumps. Madhevere gets everything behind it and defends
back of a length outside off. Madhevere goes back and defends
Just five more needed now
Madhevere wants a piece of Taijul now! Length ball just outside off. Madhevere gets down on one knee and smears it over mid wicket!
Zimbabwe need nine runs. Bangladesh need three wickets. Taijul to continue
Sushovan: "Amidst all cinema in IPL, Red ball cricket giving a special feel of theatre. Long live Test Cricket. "
oh, hello! Pressure, what pressure, says Richard Ngarava! Floated up a little and into the arc just outside off. Ngarava lines it up and clubs it over a deepish mid on!
on a length on off. Ngarava covers the line with a big stride and blocks
fullish and angling into off stump. Ngarava has a lunge at it and squirts it off the inside edge towards short leg
Ngarava is the new batter in. Mehidy stays around the wicket. Slip, short leg and silly point in place
KiwiTiger: "Damn, a few more runs - anything north of 200 and we'd be having a cracking contest!" -- Reckon this is still a pretty cracking contest!
knocks him over with an absolute cracker-jack! Now then. Now then! Fizzed through on a length on off. Masakadza comes forward but cannot get to the pitch of the ball, which gives Mehidy the opportunity to rip it past Masakadza's bat. Perfect drift, just the perfect amount of revs and Masakadza is bewildered as his stumps are shattered. In the dwindling light, Mehidy produces a moment of absolute magic, and Bangladesh are now right in this!
full on middle and off. Masakadza comes forward and defends
excitement around the bat! Back of a length on middle and leg. Masakadza stabs at it and jams it off the inside edge into his pad. The ball pops up but falls agonizingly short of silly point
Dr Brix: "I'm sitting on the edge of the bed, biting my nails like popcorn at a horror flick--this Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh match has turned into a full-blown thriller. One moment we're cruising, the next it's chaos. It's a game of inches, and every ball feels like it could swing the whole story." -- And, there is another layer of drama with bad light being a factor. Good thing is that we still have day five to reach a conclusion
darted in full on middle and off. Madhevere taps it back to the bowler
on a length outside off. Masakadza punches it into the cover region and calls his partner through
Taijul appeals his lungs out but surely that was missing leg! Fired in on a length, spinning into the batter from middle stump. Masakadza plays all around it to get rapped on the pad, but nothing doing on the lbw count
on a length outside off. Masakadza hangs back and taps it into the off side
short and wide outside off. Sits up for Madhevere, who hops back and cuts it towards deep point
tossed up full outside off. Pushed out towards extra cover
Taijul to continue
Time for a drinks break. This game is right on the edge. Zimbabwe perhaps still a little in front, but a couple of quick wickets, which is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility, will make Bangladesh believe further
back of a length just outside off. Masakadza goes back and jabs it towards point