With seven wickets in hand Bangladesh are ready to pile up a few more runs and seize control of the game while Zimbabwe believe they have a fair chance, in the second Test in Khulna.
The visitors successfully managed to keep Bangladesh’s scoring rate in check restricting the home side to 193-3 on the opening day on a supposedly batting track at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.
‘I thought it was a good day for us,’ said bowler Elton Chigumbura. ‘Going for around two runs in an over, especially on this wicket, I thought it was a good effort.
‘It’s Test cricket. You don’t expect to get seven wickets in a day. It’s about keeping the run rate down which gives chance for more wickets.
Zimbabwe relied again on their three pace bowlers, who bowled with a tight length despite seemingly getting no help from the pitch. The ball kept occasionally low, prompting the batsmen to play a risk-free game, which allowed visitors to maintain the pressure.
Chigumbura believed if they were a little lucky, things would have been different as they created enough chances that could have turned the tide easily in their favour.
‘We built the pressure well and were just unlucky that we couldn’t find the edge,’ he said.
‘But the bowlers bowled really well. We managed to beat the bat a couple of times which on that wicket was a good effort.
‘Although we did not manage five wickets, but we hope to bowl the same way tomorrow [today],’ he said.
The veteran bowler, who rattled Bangladesh with his medium-pace in the first Test, believes that the second day of the game will be crucial, especially for their debutant spinner Natsai M’shangwe.
The leg-spinner was impressive in his 24 overs despite being wicketless as he denied the host batsmen enough room to hit him. He flummoxed Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah occasionally, which signaled that his role will be vital in the next few days.
‘Bangladesh will be happy with this wicket,’ said Chigumbura. ‘We mainly bowled seam but when M’shangwe bowled, it was turning a lot. I think for our spinners, it will be a big day tomorrow [today]. If they bowl in the right areas, they can get more wickets.’
-With New Age input
