NEW DELHI: Bangladeshi spinner Taijul Islam achieved a major personal milestone despite his team’s heavy defeat to Zimbabwe in the one-off Test in Harare.The left-arm spinner claimed 7 for 138 from 40.2 overs in Zimbabwe’s first innings to register the 19th five-wicket haul of his Test career. The performance helped him break into the top five of left-arm bowlers with the most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
Taijul matches Shakib, passes Starc
Taijul’s latest five-for saw him level with the former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasanthat both bowlers now have 19 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.He also topped Australia Mitchell Starcwho has 18 five-wicket hauls.The Bangladesh spinner achieved the milestone in just 107 Test innings, making him faster than Shakib and Starc. Shakib took 121 innings to reach 19 five-fors, while Starc needed 202 innings to register his 18.
Only three left-arm bowlers came first
Sri Lanka’s great Rangana Herath remains clear at the top of the list with 34 five-wicket hauls in 93 Tests, along with 433 wickets.Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram is second with 25 five-fors and 414 wickets, while New Zealand legend Daniel Vettori occupies third place with 20 five-wicket hauls and 362 wickets.Taijul and Shakib now share the fourth spot with 19 five-fors each. Mitchell Starc falls to sixth with 18, followed by England’s Derek Underwood (17) and India’s Ravindra Jadeja (15).Taijul has now taken 270 wickets in 60 Tests, highlighting his importance in Bangladesh’s bowling attack.
Zimbabwe registered its biggest Test win
As Taijul shone with the ball, Zimbabwe dominated the match to record the biggest Test win in their history, beating Bangladesh by an innings and 85 runs at the Harare Sports Club.After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Zimbabwe’s pacers tore through the Bangladesh batting line-up, dismissing the visitors for just 140 in the first innings.Mominul Haque was the only batsman to put up any resistance with 60 runs from 81 balls.Newman Nyamhuri starred with the ball by taking four wickets, while captain Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans picked up two wickets each.
The Zimbabwean batters piled on the runs
Zimbabwe then responded with a commanding 410 in their first innings to take a massive 270-run lead.The innocent Kaia led the way with a brilliant 140, while Craig Ervine, Brian Bennett and Wessly Madhevere all scored half-centuries.Despite Taijul’s seven-wicket haul, Bangladesh struggled to stop the hosts from building a match-winning total.
Bangladesh collapsed again
Needing a huge effort to avoid defeat, Bangladesh were bowled out for 185 in their second innings.Zimbabwe’s pace attack once again shared the wickets, with Ngarava, Muzarabani, Evans and Nyamhuri all making important contributions as none of them went wicketless in either innings.
Historic moment for Zimbabwe
The victory was Zimbabwe’s biggest in Test cricket, surpassing all their previous victory margins.It also marked the first time in over 25 years that Zimbabwe had won back-to-back Test matches.Their previous Test win came against Afghanistan in October, when they won by an innings and 73 runs.