Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE recorded their first Test win in four years after beating Bangladesh by three wickets in Sylhet this Wednesday.
Under the warm skies of Sylhet, with the sun casting long shadows on the pitch, Zimbabwe stood on the edge of history.
Four years had passed since their last Test match victory against Afghanistan in March 2021, a long, testing journey marked by quiet perseverance.
On the fourth day of the first Test, Bangladesh had laid down the challenge, setting the Chevrons 174 runs for victory.
The Sylhet crowd, loud and loyal, roared for their home team the Tigers, but Zimbabwe, carrying the weight of years without glory, held firm.
The two teams had famous battles in the past and this one was no different as every run was fought for while every wicket clawed back the dream for the hosts.
Zimbabwe’s openers young and exuberant Brian Bennett together with calm Ben Curran put on a spectacle adding 95 runs for the opening wicket navigated the Bangladeshi bowlers with skill and grace.
Each run silenced the vociferous Sylhet cloud before Mehedy Hassan unlocked the door for the hosts with the wicket of Ben Curran.
The wicket was celebrated like a victory and the noise rose as Taijul Islam trapped Nich Welch Leg-before-wicket for another Bangladeshi sculpt.
Suddenly from a position of comfort Zimbabwe found themselves in a spot of bother and as wickets fell, tension gripped the Chevrons camp especially after Captain Craig Ervine and veteran Sean Williams returned to the crease with the weight of expectation hanging over them.
However, young Wessly Madhevere who was solid as a rock with nerves of steel who has had his troubles in the past on and off the field put on the anchor boots, playing a mature innings, something the selectors have always called him to do.
As the chase neared its end, the tension thickened, three wickets in hand, the bat cracked sweet, clean and the ball raced to the boundary, Madhevere had guided the Chevrons to a first Test victory in four years and their first in Bangladesh since 2018.
It was not just a win, it was a moment of redemption, a Test match that will be remembered not just for the numbers, but for the spirit behind it.
Blessing Muzarabani with nine wickets was deservedly named player of the match while the exploits of Brian Bennett opening the batting will forever be cherished.
The two teams now move on to Chattogram for the second test, with Zimbabwe with looking to win its first series away from home in more than a decade.
