DHAKA, April 21, 2025 (BSS) -Nahid Rana terrorized Zimbabwe in a gem of pace bowling as Bangladesh reduced the visiting side to 133-4 at lunch on Day 2 of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

After a mediocre performance on the first day, Nahid claimed 3-46 in this session to give Bangladesh a glimmer of hope to restrict Zimbabwe from taking a first-innings lead.

Zimbabwe are still trailing by 58 runs as Bangladesh were folded for 191 in their first innings, paying the price of their reckless batting.

The pre-match buzz around Nahid Rana began when Zimbabwe's Sean Williams made a cheeky comment about the young pacer's speed. In response, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said Zimbabwe would realize just how quick Nahid is once they face him in the match.

On Day 1, Zimbabwe batters comfortably negotiated his first four overs, but in just the second over of the Day 2, Nahid broke through with typically aggressive pace.

He banged one in short with searing pace, and Ben Curran, unable to evade the extra bounce, fended it to short leg. Mominul Haque dived forward to take a excellent catch.

Curran was out on 18 after playing 55 balls.

His fellow opener Brian Bennet was quite comfortable in negotiating all kinds of questions the Bangladeshi bowlers threw to him.

He brought up his maiden fifty off just 56 balls by driving Hasan Mahmud's back of length delivery past cover-point.

Nahid's extra bounce and pace did the trick, finding the outside edge of Bennet to end his promising knock, when Jaker Ali Anik, behind the stumps, did the rest.

Hasan Mahmud joined the party in the immediate next over by uprooting Nich Welch's (2) stump with an inswinger.

With Zimbabwe reduced to 88-3, Sean Williams and captain Craig Ervine steadied the innings, hinting at a potential comeback.

Nahid broke this threatening 41-run partnership in the penultimate over of the lunch session by inducing a faint outside edge to dismiss Ervine for 8. The on-
field umpire had initially given not out, but Bangladesh overturned the decision with an excellent review.

At lunch, Sean Williams was unbeaten on 33 off 57 balls with four fours and a six, while Wessly Madhevere was on 4.