Bangladesh Won The Test by 162 Runs. Lead the Series 2-0.
Three prongs Bangladesh spin attack on a wicket of uneven bounce blew away pathetic looking Zimbabwe in the last session of the last day of the second test recording a massive win by 162 runs. Back to back wins at Dhaka and Khulna lead tigers win the series with the third to be played at Chittagong with an interest to see whether Zimbabweans get a tiger wash.
PEERLESS Shakib had another five wickets haul in the second innings. He teaming with young Taijul and rookie Jubair stung the shell shocked Zimbabwe batsmen like bees.The spinners grabbed all ten wickets in the second innings giving away 130 runs in 43.1 overs. ICC Top ranked all-rounder Shakib joined another exclusive club of elite test cricketers scoring a century and taking 10 wickets in a test. Only three other players in the history of test cricket AK Davidson of Australia, IT Botham of England and Imran Khan of Pakistan are proud owners of this enviable milestone. This is the third test series win by Bangladesh. They earlier won series against Zimbabwe at home and West Indies in West Indies.
It is really amazing how a win changes the psyche of a team. 
It is really amazing how a win changes the psyche of a team. The team that was performing so well in till middle of 2013 suddenly started losing in all format of the game from late 2013. Frustration started creeping in and controversies created panic. Bangladesh was languishing at the bottom of ICC test ranking. This series which we called “ Poor Man’s Ashes “ became a do or die for the tigers after they got comprehensively white washed in all three formats of the game in the Caribbean tour .Needless to mention that the king pin of the team Shakib had to serve very harsh suspension term for his alleged attitude issue . The countrywide protests of cricket fans at one stage compelled BCB to reduce the suspension term. Shakib on return proved beyond doubt that with him Bangladesh becomes all together a different team. In retrospect one can conclude that with Shakib playing in the West Indies there were chances that Bangladesh would not be humiliated with series white wash.
Coming back to this test tigers looked a completely different side even to that which played at Dhaka. A determined Tamim Iqbal played an out of character innings of patience scoring 109 in 473 minutes the first innings. When required he gave a bight start to the second innings as well. The only player who looked a unsettled was Shamsur Rahman failing in both innings. His batting failure impacted on his fielding as well .He dropped few easy catches in the Zimbabwe First innings and more importantly two of Hamilton Masakadza who ultimately stood like a rock of Gibraltar shouldering his team with a score of 158 in the first innings. Pocket dynamite Mominul looked solid in both innings scoring 35 and 54 in the process of joining greats like Sunil Gavaskar and Brain Lara getting to 1000 runs in only his 11 th test. Mahamuddullah batted very smartly and consistently in both innings scoring half centuries 56 and 71 respectively. Number 3 and 4 positions in test now appear to be settled. Shakib and Mushfique can now play more freely and aggressively on a solid platform more often than not.Skaib scored a brilliant attacking century 137 his third in test in the first innings while in the second he was out to a ball which suddenly kept low. Mushfique these days usually bat very consistently .But luck ran out of him in this test. In the first innings he was unfortunately run out or rather sacrificed for well-set Shakib attempting a run which was nonexistent. In the second innings he got out first ball when it kicked off a length. Off the rest Shubhagato Hom started getting into his right groove in the second innings scoring a very important half century. Taijul batted well in the first innings. So after a while Bangladesh batted like a team in a mission with a purpose.
The wicket had very little to offer to the pace bowlers. Shahadat Hossain was almost a pedestrian in the test bowling only 11 of 135 overs in the first innings. He was not required to bowl in the second innings. Rubel with his pace and reverse swing played his part taking two wickets of the tail enders in the second innings. If Chittagong wicket remains the same we would suggest taking an additional batsman or another quality spinner to create more miseries for the visitors. It is very heartening to see that Bangladesh now really has three quality spinners. Shakib is one of the top in the world but two emerging spinners Taijul and Jubair looked very impressive in both the test. On a spinning track if supported well by the fielders especially by the wicket keeper they will cause great headache to any test team. Shakib perhaps has created fever in Zimbabwean camp. When two quality bowlers bowl in tandem from both ends then teams not having experience of playing quality spin on turning surfaces look like novice. That is what happened to the tourists in the second innings of the both test.
The only spot of bother was very ordinary fielding of Bangladesh in the first innings .Few catches including two vital catches of Masakadza were not taken. He alone held the Bangladesh bowlers at bay for a long time and along with young c Chakava steered his team out of woods .If his catches could be taken there could be another win within four days at most .Zimbabwe could be following on . On the contrary through a solid Masakadza Chakaba 145 runs fifth wicket partnership theyat one stage were threatening to match Bangladesh first innings score of 433. However, Shakib getting rid of him created a mini collapse and they conceded a very vital 65 runs lead. Masakadza scored 158 and Chakava 101.
The tourist looks in all sorts of trouble now. In the first test there was hardly anything to choose between the teams. But in the second they finished a distant second in the two horse derby. Batting has genuine problem. None but Masakadza seem to have required technique or temperament for playing quality spin on a turning track. Even their main batsman skipper Taylor could not demonstrate patience. Chakaba scored a century but he too struggles to play spin. Sikandar Raza , Brain Chari,C Ervine look all lost in adjusting to Bangladesh wicket against quality spin bowling .
However, Zimbabwean Bowlers rather performed much better compared to the batsmen. Two spinners MN Waller and MW Shangwe bowled well grabbing four wickets each in the second innings.Panyangara and Chatara bowled better than Bangladeshi pacers. In one department fielding tourists are clearly better. Bangladesh has to improve a lot if they want to win matches against superior sides.
November 7 is an eventful day in Bangladesh history. In 1975 on this day some valiant liberation front commanders were brutally killed by the miscreants and anti-Bangladesh elements. On this day a great series win brought joy for all Bangladeshis wherever they are in the world. After all it is only cricket which brings the nation together. How patiently the tiger fans stand behind the team in thick and thin.
The test not only won a test series for Bangladesh after a draught and below par performance but also two of our bright cricket talents Mominul Haque and Shakib Ul Hasan inscribed their names in very prestigious club of elite cricketers. This win will work to create great enthusiasm for Bangladeshis in other aspects of life. Let us not get carried away or complacent. Let us grow from strength to strength to roam like roaring Roal Bengal Tigers. Let victories in cricket makes us work more unitedly for our nation building forgetting the silly difference of opinions on nonproductive issues. Let Bangladesh march with our Team Tigers .
For the readers who missed post match presentation speeches by captains and man of match, let us conclude this quoting from Cricinfo.
Quote
Brendan Taylor: It was disappointing. You work hard for 4.5 days and get blown away like that, it's a hard thing to swallow but Bangladesh were the better side. Credit to them and to Masakadza and Waller for playing well. Our bowlers held their own to restrict Bangladesh and we should have scored bigger in the first innings. They've got some pretty good spinners, especially on the last day. We need to have a look at some of our dismissals. There's still a Test match to go and we'll try and improve.
Mushfiqur Rahim: We needed the win and knew it was not going to be easy, the credit goes to all the boys. Shakib is a very special player. There was a big improvement in our batting from Tamim and Shakib. There are areas to improve, especially in our batting and we'll think about our tactics and work on them. It's obvious both teams dropped many catches and we need to work on that. The team that misses less catches wins. We know why Shakib is special - with bat, ball and in the field - and all the young guys are inspired him. I'm happy for the whole team and hopefully it will continue. Couple of areas where we need to improve and we want to win 3-0. 
Shakib Al Hasan is the Man of the Match: I thought it was a very good team effort, especially the stand between Mominul and Mahmudullah, and Shuvagata' fifty later on. Taijul bowled very well and I did my part too. One journalist told me couple of weeks earlier about the record and I had my eye on taking 10 wickets and scoring a hundred. I was lucky, and thanks to almighty as well. The pitch was a very good batting track, it wasn't easy to score runs and difficult to get out too once you settled in. It was turning a lot on the last day. I put the ball in the right areas and it worked. It's a great feeling to lead a series 2-0 and hopeful we'll keep on doing this in the future series as well.
Bangladesh for third test at Chittagong can consider adding another quality spinner. India in hey days of spin bowling used to play tests with Bedi, Prasanna, Ventaraghavan and Chandrshekhar.Zimbawenas are showing clear weaknesses against left arm spin. Jubair also looked great with his looping leg spinners and varieties. We can play Rubel for his pace and reverse swing and can very well do with four front line spinners. A series white wash will take Bangladesh well clear of the bottom in the ICC ranking making it easier for climbing the next ladder.
** Bangladesh win series against Zimbabwe
** Bangladesh declare with 313 lead
BDST: 1813 HRS, NOV 07, 2014
