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ZIM win 2 - 0 ZIM gains 11 points; BAN loses 11 points
Draw 1 - 1 BAN gains 4 points; ZIM loses 4 points
BAN win 2 - 0 BAN gains 19 points; ZIM loses 19 points
Harare
19 - 23 February 2004
Rain prevented any play prior to lunch.� Zimbabwe then won the toss and elected to bat first.� Bangladesh seized the early initiative by dismissing Gripper (0) in the second over.� Bangladesh dropped Ebrahim later in the session before Zimbabwe went to tea at 1 for 101.� Bangladesh again made a good start to the evening session and caught Carlisle (58) at 2 for 107.� Ebrahim (65) was then stumped and shortly afterwards Grant Flower (5) was caught at 4 for 133. Bangladesh had fought back, but was then unable to deliver the devastating blow that a further wicket would generate.� At stumps, Zimbabwe worked their way back into the game at 4 for 175.
Zimbabwe resumed on the second morning in a positive fashion and added another 113 runs for the loss only of Taibu (59).� At lunch, Zimbabwe was well placed at 5 for 288.� Bangladesh fought back after lunch by dismissing Ervine (86) and Blignaut (7) soon after play resumed to have Zimbabwe 7 for 306.� Despite being unable to score as quickly through the rest of the session, Zimbabwe began to take a firm grip on the game and at tea the score was 7 for 363.� Bangladesh eventually dismissed Streak (68) at 8 for 412 and then Price (9) and Ewing (71) fell with Zimbabwe all out for 441.� Mohammad Rafique was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 112 off 57 overs.� Bangladesh faced 3.1 overs and lost Hannan Sarkar (4) before bad light stopped play with the score 1 for 14.
Bangladesh took the score to 1 for 34 on the third morning before Tapash Baisya (4) and Habibul Bashar (0) were dismissed in consecutive overs.� Zimbabwe later dismissed Shahriar Hossain (48) at 4 for 77 before Bangladesh batted though to be 4 for 122 at lunch and at risk of failing to reach the 242 runs needed to avoid the follow on.� However, Mohammad Ashraful managed to occupy one end during the afternoon session to add some stability.� While Rajin Saleh (49) fell at 5 for 162, Bangladesh then batted through to be 5 for 191 at tea.� During the evening session, Ashraful piloted Bangladesh safely past the follow on target before falling for 98 with the score 6 for 259.� Zimbabwe then increased their overall advantage by dismissing Mushfiqur Rahman (44), Khaled Mashud (6) and Mohammad Rafique (3) before Bangladesh ended the day at 9 for 313, still 128 runs in arrears.
Bangladesh took the total to 331 on the fourth morning before Manjural Islam (5) was caught behind, leaving Manjural Islam Rana not out on 35.� Streak was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 44.� Zimbabwe began extending their 110 runs first innings lead, but lost Gripper (5) at 1 for 12 and then Ebrahim (31) and Flower (3) in the space of four runs at 3 for 54.� Zimbabwe then steadied the innings before Carlisle (33) was run out at 4 for 90 when the overall lead was 200 runs.� Zimbabwe then motored on toward an impregnable position.� Taibu (58) was out at 5 for 180 and then Ervine?s (74) dismissal at 6 for 232 triggered a mini collapse as quick runs were sought before the declaration.� After Ewing (1) and Blignaut (32) were out, Zimbabwe declared at 8 for 242 and an overall lead of 352 runs.� Tapash Baisya, Mohammad Rafique and Manjural Islam Rana each took two wickets.� Bangladesh then required 353 runs from 104 overs to claim the most unlikely victory.� During the 14 overs before stumps, Bangladesh lost Shahriar Hossain (1), and then with 14 runs on the board they lost Habibul Bashar (0) Hannan Sarkar (10), Mohammad Ashraful (0) and Mushfiqur Rahman (0).� The final three constituted Zimbabwe's first ever hat trick in Test cricket, which was claimed by Blignaut.� At stumps, Bangladesh?s only hope of avoiding defeat would be for rain to intervene on the final day.
Bangaldesh held out for over an hour on the final morning before Rajin Saleh (47) fell at 6 for 81.� Eight overs later, Manjural Islam Rana's (31) was caught and when Tapash Baisya (2) was out at 8 for 112, lunch was taken.� Zimbabwe wrapped the Test up during the afternoon session when Mohammad Rafique (5) and Khaled Mashud (61) were dismissed and Bangladesh was all out for 169.� Price was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 61 off 20.5 overs with Zimbabwe winners by 183 runs.
Second Test
Bulawayo
26 February - 1 March 2004
Rain prevented any play on the first two days of the match due to heavy rain, drawing into question the wisdom of actually starting the match on the third day when further rain was forecast.� After a one hour delay on the third morning, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first.� Bangladesh managed to slowly bat through the 14 overs before lunch without losing a wicket.� However, soon after lunch Zimbabwe dismissed Shahriar Hossain (31), Habibul Bashar (4), Hannan Sarkar (25), Mohammad Ashraful (1) and Rajin Saleh (6) in the space of 23 runs as Bangladesh slumped to 5 for 87. �One run was then added before rain swept in and prevented any further play on day three.
Rain again prevented play on the fourth day leaving the chances of a non-contrived result non-existent.� Zimbabwe dismissed Mushfiqur Rahman (0), Khaled Mashud (9), Tapash Baisya (2), Manjural Islam Rana (39) during the final morning while Bangladesh slumped further to 9 for 137.� Shortly after lunch, Alamgir Kabir (3) was caught leaving Mohammad Rafique not out on 26 from an innings total of 168 runs.� Ervine (3 for 44 off 15 overs) and Price (3 for 20 off 8.5 overs) shared the bowling honours.� Zimbabwe elected not to declare the innings closed at 0 for 0 and instead batted out the afternoon.� Bangladesh made an early break through when Ebrahim (2) was caught at 1 for 5.� Zimbabwe continued on and took the total to 134 before Gripper (65) was also caught.� After Carlisle (103*) posted his second Test century the match was declared a draw with Zimbabwe 2 for 210.
