HARARE: Zimbabwe took first-day honours in a one-off Test against Bangladesh on Sunday thanks to opener Innocent Kaia and left-arm quick Newman Nyamhuri.

Nyamhuri took four wickets as Bangladesh collapsed to 140 all out at the Harare Sports Club.

An unbeaten 76 from Kaia then lifted Zimbabwe to 136 for the loss of one wicket as the hosts seek to follow up a Test win in Bangladesh last year with another victory.

Bangladesh, fresh from a 2-0 series win over Pakistan in the longest format, arrived in southern Africa confident of winning, with captain and batter Najmul Hossain Shanto in top form.

But only Mominul Haque (60), Shadman Islam (20) and Najmul (19) reached double figures in a dismal batting performance. The last seven wickets fell for a meagre 27 runs.

Nyamhuri (4-61) was ably supported by new skipper Richard Ng­a­rava (2-18), Blessing Muz­arabani (2-19) and Brad Evans (2-30).

After the early losses of openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy (two) and Shadman, Mominul stabilised the innings adding 77 runs for the third wicket, leaving the tourists 113-3. The Zimbabwe bowlers then wreaked havoc, starting with the wicket of Najmul.

In response, Zimbabwe had 89 runs on the scoreboard before Ben Curran (42) departed, edging the ball to Najmul at second slip off the bowling of Khaled Ahmed.

Kaia, whose 108-ball stand included nine fours, then put on 47 runs with veteran Brendan Taylor (17 not out).

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st Innings):
Mahmudul Hasan c Tsiga b Nyamhuri2
Shadman Islam c Ervine b Evans20
Mominul Haque c Ervine b Nyamhuri60
Najmul Hossain c Tsiga b Evans19
Mushfiqur Rahim b Ngarava9
Towhid Hridoy c Tsiga b Ngarava3
Amite Hasan c Tsiga b Muzarabani4
Taijul Islam c Tsiga b Nyamhuri9
Hasan Mahmud c Bennett b Muzarabani0
Khaled Ahmed b Nyamhuri0
Ebadot Hossain not out0

EXTRAS (B-6, LB-6, W-2)14
TOTAL (all out, 47.2 overs)140
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-6 (Mahmudul), 2-36 (Shadman), 3-113 (Mominul), 4-119 (Najmul), 5-125 (Mushfiqur), 6-130 (Towhid), 7-132 (Amite), 8-140 (Taijul), 9-140 (Hasan)
BOWLING: Ngarava 10-4-18-2 (1w), Muzarabani 15-8-19-2, Nyamhuri 12.2-1-61-4 (1w), Evans 10-4-30-2

ZIMBABWE (1st Innings):
I. Kaia not out76
B. Curran c Najmul b Khaled42
B. Taylor not out17

EXTRA (B-1)1
TOTAL (for one wicket, 34 overs)136
STILL TO BAT: B. Bennett, C. Ervine, T. Tsiga, W. Madhevere, B. Evans, N. Nyamhuri, R. Ngarava, B. Muzarabani
FALL OF WICKET: 1-89 (Curran)
BOWLING: Hasan 10-0-46-0, Khaled 8-1-33-1, Ebadot 6-0-37-0, Taijul 10-0-19-0

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2026