Mehidy Hasan, an all-rounder from Bangladesh, thinks his team can find motivation in their past Test triumph against the West Indies since they want to come back against Zimbabwe in the current first Test. Bangladesh battled fiercely on day two, limiting Zimbabwe to 273. Using platforms like the Malbet to stay updated, fans followed closely as Bangladesh ended at 57/1 in their second innings, lowering the gap to only 25 runs after a faltering start on the opening day.
Claiming a five-wicket haul (5-52), Mehidy voiced hope for Bangladesh’s ability to alter the tide of events. ” Right now, we have control over it. We might cut the lead to 25 runs. We are lost one wicket, hence if we can bat sensibly, Zimbabwe will struggle on the fourth day,” he remarked in a post-match news conference.
When Mehidy reflected on their past, he highlighted Bangladesh’s comeback triumph over the West Indies, where they were bowled out for a low score but still managed to win. Against the West Indies, we were all out for 174 (164). That game taught us a great deal. We can accomplish that at home if we can do it away. We have faith in our experienced enough batters. Two partnerships can alter the situation,” he said.
Creating alliances essential for Bangladesh’s success
Mehidy underlined the need to create solid alliances to establish a competitive aim. “We must give creating relationships a top priority. At the start, they struck brilliantly; then, our bowlers came back and stopped their run flow. We then received the wickets. If we bat well, we will score 350–400. Furthermore, the challenge is to aim for 300 runs in a test,” he said.
The off-spinner attributed his bowling performance to disciplined line and length instead of forceful wicket-taking attempts. “Getting wickets makes one always happy. Though, my expectation was not very high. I supported my team and aimed to bowl in decent locations. You must have the luck to get five wickets and bowl in nice areas,” he remarked.
Mehidy also underlined the role of coaching staff members in evaluating and changing plans. “We occasionally know how to bowl on every given wicket. The coaches also really guided us effectively. After my first spell, we examined the video footage. I asked the coaches about my bowling speed, which would be sufficient for this pitch. On this surface, you cannot score wickets fast, but the batter’s error might be on show if you chop away the runs. That was my mindset, which helped me to get the wickets.
Zimbabwe Still Optimistic Despite Bangladesh’s Resistance
Day two saw Bangladesh pick momentum, but Zimbabwe starter Brian Bennett was hopeful about his team’s prospects. Although the 21-year-old, who made a vital 57 in Zimbabwe’s innings, admitted the change in momentum, he thought the game was still fairly poised.
“After bowling Bangladesh for 191 and yesterday night’s performance with the bat, I believe the game is now in balance. After that wicket in the evening, we felt somewhat ahead. Tomorrow is going to be a big one. We have to go hard and ideally, Bennett stated, they don’t have too much of a lead for us in the fourth innings.”
As the game continued, he observed that the pitch had become simpler for batting on. “I find it somewhat simpler now to bat on. Clearly, following the first innings, there is some turnover. The seamers are coming on a bit better than yesterday morning.”
Bennett showed faith in Zimbabwe’s capacity to win a rare Test match in Bangladesh. “We seldom usually win a Test in Bangladesh. We feel quite likely to be in a commanding posture like this today. This Test still has a lot of time, hence we have to back the fifteen individuals in this group to perform their duties.”
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Vital Third Day Ahead
The third day will be crucial in deciding the game’s direction since Bangladesh is behind with just 25 runs and nine wickets. Should Bangladesh establish strong alliances, it could set a demanding target for Zimbabwe. Conversely, Zimbabwe’s bowlers aim for the early strike to recover control.
Mehidy Hasan’s faith in Bangladesh’s batting line implies that the hosts think they can produce a strong total. But Bennett’s hope and Zimbabwe’s battling attitude suggest that the guests are far from out of the contest.
