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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
Chittagong
06 - 10 January 2005
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision proved to be a good one as Zimbabwe was unable to take a wicket during the crucial first session. Zimbabwe eventually broke the opening partnership when Javed Omar (33) was caught behind at 1 for 91 and then Nafis Iqbal (56) was out two runs later. Zimbabwe completed a successful afternoon session when Mohammad Ashraful (19) was caught at 3 for 153. Bangladesh then managed to consolidate and almost batted through to stumps before Habibul Bashar (94) was out at 4 for 272 in the third last over of the day. At stumps, Bangladesh had built a good platform with the score 4 for 280. .
Zimbabwe had early success on the second morning, dismissing Aftab Ahmed (6) in the third over. Bangladesh then batted until just before lunch, adding another 58 runs before Rajin Saleh (90) was caught and bowled at 6 for 341. At lunch, Bangladesh was 6 for 346. Zimbabwe continued to struggle to take wickets through the afternoon session.� Bangladesh passed 400 before Khaled Mashud (49) was caught behind at 7 for 410.� Bangladesh then began smashing the ball around at five runs per over until just before tea, Mohammad Rafique (69) was caught behind at 8 for 472.� Bangladesh then added another eight runs before going to tea.� Zimbabwe struck straight after the break when they bowled Tapash Baisya (6). Eight runs later, Mashrafe Mortaza (48) was caught and Bangladesh was out for 488 runs, their highest Test innings in 35 Tests.� Mpofu was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 109 off 29 overs.� In reply, Zimbabwe made 31 runs before Matsikenyeri (28) was caught.� Zimbabwe then suffered a significant setback when Sibanda (12), Rodgers (5) and Cremer (0) were all dismissed in the space of eleven runs to see Zimbabwe 4 for 59.� By stumps, Zimbabwe was 4 for 84, with Bangladesh looking a very real possibility of being able to enforce a follow on for the first time in Tests.
Zimbabwe began the third morning from a losing position and immediately saw it deteriorate with Masakadza (29) bowled in the third over of the day.� However, Zimbabwe then managed to consolidate and batted until just prior to lunch before Taylor (39) was trapped in front at 6 for 152.� At lunch, Zimbabwe had added another three runs to be 6 for 155, still 133 runs short of the follow on target.� Zimbabwe then generated a prolonged seventh wicket partnership by batting through the afternoon session without loss.� By tea, Zimbabwe had added 78 more runs to be 6 for 233.� To have any hope of avoiding being the first established Test nation to lose to Bangladesh, Zimbabwe needed to make 56 more runs to avoid following on.� Zimbabwe added 38 runs before losing Chigumbura (71) but then passed the follow on target before losing Taibu (92) in the penultimate over of the day.� At stumps, Zimbabwe was 8 for 208 with an outside chance of securing a draw.�
Bangladesh dismissed Hondo (1) and Nkala (23) in the first half hour of the fourth morning to have Zimbabwe all out for 312 runs.� Mohammad Rafique was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 65 off 41.4 overs, his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests.� Bangladesh began their second innings and Nafis Iqbal (0) was out in the fourth over at 1 for 7.� Zimbabwe dismissed Rajin Saleh (26) shortly before Bangladesh went to lunch at 2 for 62, with an overall lead of 245 runs.� Bangladesh continued to look for quick runs during the afternoon session.� Although Zimbabwe dismissed Mohammad Ashraful (22), Aftab Ahmed (11), Habibul Bashar (55) and Khaled Mashud (23), Bangladesh added 97 runs in the session to go to tea at 6 for 159.� Zimbabwe dismissed Javed Omar (15), Mashrafe Mortaza (19) and Tapash Baisya (1) before Bangladesh declared at 9 for 204, giving Zimbabwe a final innings target of 381 runs.� Chigumbura was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 54 off 16.1 overs.� Zimbabwe made a bad start to their run chase after Rogers (0) and Sibanda (0) were dismissed at 2 for 2.� By stumps, Bangladesh had also dismissed Matsikenyeri (56) to have Zimbabwe in real trouble at 3 for 46.�
Zimbabwe batted through the first hour of the final morning without losing a wicket.� However, in the hour leading up to lunch, Taylor (44), Taibu (0) and Masakadza (56) were all dismissed in the space of 14 runs and Zimbabwe was 6 for 126 at lunch.� Bangladesh closed on their maiden Test victory after lunch, dismissing batsmen every ten minutes or so. �After Chigumbura (10), Cremer (2), Nkala (5) and Mpofu (5) were out, Zimbabwe was all out for 154 runs, handing Bangladesh victory by 226 runs.
Second Test
Dhaka
14 - 18 January 2005
Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bat first.� The decision paid off early and Zimbabwe batted through until just after drinks before Bangladesh bowled Rogers (29) at 1 for 65.� Zimbabwe was unable to take any further wickets in session before Zimbabwe went to lunch well placed at 1 for 88.� However, soon after play resumed Zimbabwe suffered a mini collapse after Bangladesh dismissed Matsikenyeri (51), Ebrahim (12) and Taylor (2) in the space of 15 runs to be 4 for 111.� Zimbabwe then consolidated until Masakadza (43) was out at 5 for 171 shortly before tea.� Bangladesh was only able to dismiss Chigumbura (34) late in the evening session before Zimbabwe finished the day at 6 for 244, with the honours even.
Zimbabwe added another 13 runs on the second morning before Panyangara (21) was caught.� Crmmer (1) was bowled soon afterwards with the score 8 for 262.� However, Hondo then combined with Taibu (85*) to take the total to 298 before first Honda (9) and then Mpofu (0) fell in successive deliveries.� Enamul Haque jnr was the best of the bowlers with career best figures of 7 for 95 off 35 overs.� Bangladesh began their reply and added 58 runs before a top order collapse saw Javed Omar (34), Nafis Iqbal (28), Mohammad Ashraful (5) and Habibul Bashar (10) dismissed in the space of 27 runs for Bangladesh to be in trouble at 4 for 85.� Zimbabwe took two more quick wickets just after Bangladesh had passed the century, with Aftab Ahmed (0) caught and Khaled Mashud (0) bowled to see Bangladesh 6 for 107.� Late in the evening session, Zimbabwe dismissed Rajin Saleh (24) and Mohammad Rafique (56) before Bangladesh ended the day at 8 for 169, still 129 runs in arrears and seemingly heading toward defeat.
Bangladesh batted for almost an hour on the third morning before Mashrafe Mortaza (26) and Tapash Baisya (13) were both caught to see Bangladesh all out for 211 runs, conceding a first inning lead of 87 runs.� Hondo was the best of the bowlers with 6 for 59 off 22 overs.� Zimbabwe then began extending their lead.� However, 30 runs had been scored, Bangladesh struck hard, with Matsikenyeri (14), Ebrahim (1), Masakadza (1) and Rogers (20) all dismissed in the space of seven runs to see Zimbabwe 4 for 37, with a lead of 124 runs.� Zimbabwe was then able to consolidate and added another 150 runs before Bangladesh was finally able to dismiss Taylor (78) and Chigumbura (0) late in the evening session.� At stumps, Zimbabwe was 6 for 203, with an overall lead of 290 runs.�
Zimbabwe continued to bat Bangladesh out of the match on the fourth morning.� After half an hour, Bangladesh managed stump Panyangara (6) at 7 for 212 and Cremer (0) was to trapped in front six runs later.� However, Hondo (3) again combined with Taibu (153), who posted his maiden Test century, to take Zimbabwe to 285 before both were out in the space of one run.� Enamul Haque jnr was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 105 off 37 overs, giving him match figures of 12 for 200 - his first ten-wicket match.� Bangladesh was then left with the task of making an unlikely 374 runs for victory.� By stumps, they were well placed at 0 for 98 to either win or draw the match and win their maiden Test series.
Bangladesh resumed on the final morning and batted almost through to lunch before Zimbabwe finally broke the record opening partnership of 133 runs to catch Javed Omar (43).� That was Zimbabwe's only success and at lunch, Bangladesh was 1 for 135.� Zimbabwe had better luck after lunch, with Habibul Bashar (2) and Mohammad Ashraful (3) falling in consecutive overs for Bangladesh to be 3 for 153.� Bangladesh then settled and Nafis Iqbal posted his maiden Test century in his sixth Test before Bangladesh went to tea at 3 for 196.� Zimbabwe struck twice soon after tea with Nafis Iqbal (121) caught at 4 for 196 and Aftab Ahmed (5) being caught behind ten runs later.� Bangladesh, however, could see the light at the end of the tunnel and batted into the final hour without further loss. When play was abandoned and the match declared a draw, Bangladesh was 5 for 285, with Rajin Selah (56) and Khaled Mashud (28) the not out batsmen. Panyangara was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 28 off 21 overs.
