Mehidy Hasan Miraz produced a sensational all-round performance to script Bangladesh's emphatic innings and 106-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second of the two-match Test series at the Birsreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday to draw the series 1-1.
Bangladesh began Day-3 on 291 for seven before rain briefly halted play. Once the skies cleared, Taijul Islam departed after making 20 runs. At the other end, Miraz stood firm and reached his half-century to become the 9th Bangladeshi to score 2000 runs in Test cricket.
The day turned even more special for the all-rounder as he entered the elite club of cricketers who have achieved the double of 2000 Test runs and 200 wickets. Only one other Bangladeshi, Shakib Al Hasan, had previously reached this landmark.
Miraz then went on to score his second Test century and became only the third Bangladeshi cricketer after Shakib Al Hasan and Sohag Gazi to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same match. Shakib achieved the feat twice. Overall, such all-round heroics have occurred only 39 times in Test history.
The talismanic built a vital 96-run stand for the ninth wicket with debutant pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib (41). Miraz hoarded a superb 104 off 162 balls before being stumped as the last Bangladesh batter. Hosts thus, ended at 444 in 129.2 overs in their first innings taking a massive lead of 217 runs.
Vincent Masekesa was the standout bowler for Zimbabwe taking five wickets. Blessing Mujarabani, Wellington Masakadza, Brain Bennett and Wesley Madhavare each picking up one.
In reply, Zimbabwe's second innings turned into a one-sided collapse late in the day. The visiting batters fell apart in the face of sharp spin from Taijul and Miraz.
The top and middle order crumbled with Brian Bennett, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Wesley Madhavare, Tafazwa Tsiga and Wellington Masakadza offering little resistance. Only Ben Karen showed some grit with a fighting 46.
Miraz took five wickets for just 32 runs to achieve his 13th five-wicket haul in Tests. Taijul added three more to his match tally and Nayeem Hasan picked up one. Bangladesh's spinners accounted for 17 of Zimbabwe's 20 wickets in both innings.
Earlier, Zimbabwe's first innings score of 227 was shaped by Sean Williams' 67 and Nicholas Welch's 54.
Taijul returned with figures of six for 60, while Nayeem claimed two and Sakib got one wicket.
The win was not only comprehensive but also redemptive for Bangladesh who had faced criticism after their three-wicket loss in the first Test. This innings victory marked the Tigers' return to form and ended their six-and-a-half-year wait to avenge a Test defeat to Zimbabwe.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was named Player of the Match for his century and five-wicket haul and also earned the Player of the Series award for scoring 116 runs and taking 15 wickets across the two Tests.
