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27-Oct-2014 10:39:00 GMT
Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, 1st Test, Mirpur

Taijul Spins Bangladesh to Thriller Win Against Zimbabwe

Dhaka: Taijul Islam (8-39) returned Bangladesh's best ever single-innings haul and struck a crucial 15 runs in the lower order to help the host team overcome a spirited Zimbabwe by three wickets Monday in a tense finish to the first cricket Test.

Bangladesh reached the winning target of 101 after batting collapses at the start and near the end of the innings that threatened to derail the chase. Islam, who took 8 for 39 in Zimbabwe's second innings, later hit the winning boundary through backward square leg.

Set a modest target of 101, Bangladesh slipped to 0-3 before Taijul, coming in at 82-7, guided his team home with an unbeaten 15 amid mounting tension on the third day at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka.

Taijul, who put on an unbroken stand of 19 with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (23 not out), was named the man of the match in only his third Test appearance.

It was Bangladesh's fifth Test win in 86 matches and only the second at home after the 226-run win against the same opponents in Chittagong in 2005.

The two lowest-ranked teams in Test cricket -- Zimbabwe at number nine and Bangladesh at 10 -- will resume battle when the second Test opens in Khulna on November 3.

Taijul eclipsed team-mate Shakib Al Hasan's Bangladeshi record of 7-36 against New Zealand at Chittagong in 2008 as he spun out the Zimbabwe batsmen after the tourists resumed at 5-0.

Skipper Brendan Taylor was the only Zimbabwean to resist Taijul and the other bowlers, making an unbeaten 45, as six batsmen failed to reach double figures.

A relieved Rahim said his team needed an all-round improvement despite the win.

Elton Chigumbura claimed four for 21 as Bangladesh almost messed up what should have been a simple chase even on the deteriorating pitch.

Having lost the top three batsmen without a run on the board, the hosts buckled under pressure before Rahim and Taijul bailed them out.

Brief scores
Zimbabwe -
240 (Sikandar Raza 51, Shakib 5-59) and 114 (Taylor 45*, Taijul Islam 8-39)
Bangladesh - 254 (Rahim 64, Mahmudullah 63, Mominul 53, Panyangara 5-59) and 101/7 (Chigumbura 4-21)
Result - Bangladesh won by 3 wickets
MOM - Taijul Islam (Bangladesh)


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