Photo : BCB Facebook

DHAKA, April 29, 2025 (BSS)-Opener Shadman Islam hit a brisk century as Bangladesh dominated Zimbabwe to reach 205-3 at tea on Day 2 of the second and final Test at the Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram today.

Shadman was dismissed just before the tea session after scoring 120 off 181, his best Test score, that included 16 fours and one six.

He also became the 16th Bangladeshi batter to go past 1000 runs. 

At the second break of the day, Mushfiqur Rahim was batting on 9 and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto on 2, with Bangladesh trailing by just 22 runs.

Zimbabwe, earlier in the day, were dismissed for 227 in its first innings. 

Shadman's determination and Anamul Haque Bijoy's grit served Bangladesh well as they started replying to Zimbabwe's total. 

Bijoy and Shadman put on a 118-run partnership for the opening stand - the first century partnership for Bangladesh in that position since December 2022.

They kept themselves unscathed throughout the morning session after Zimbabwe were all out for overnight 227 in the first innings. Taijul Islam got the better of Blessing Muzurabani in the first ball of the day to bring an end to the Zimbabwe innings, leaving Tafadzwa Tsiga stranded on 18.

Taijul eventually finished with 6-60 from 27.1 overs.

Bijoy and Shadman were proactive right from the start with the latter slashing Richard Ngarava for a boundary past point in the third over to show the aggressive intent.

Playing his first Test after three years, Bijoy got off the mark with two boundaries against Nagarava in the fifth over. Bijoy pulled the pacers with ease to show he had no rust despite playing the Test after a long time.

But Just after the lunch session, Muzurabani got the better of Bijoy, having him leg-before for 39, a gritty 80-ball-knock that was laced with four fours. 

Shadman who made just 12 and 4 just in the two innings of the first Test in Sylhet, was confident throughout his stay. 

He drove pacer Richard Ngarava for boundary past cover to raise his second Test ton off 147 balls. His first century also came against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2021.

Shadman and Mominul added 76-run for the second wicket stand after which both of fell for in two balls, just before the tea session. 

Wellington Masakadza broke the partnership, dismissing Mominul Haque for 33 and in the next over, Brian Bennett dismissed Shadman to end his excellent knock.

Zimbabwe lead the two-match series 1-0 following their three-wicket victory in the first Test in Sylhet.