Shadman Islam Rises to the Occasion for Bangladesh
Bangladesh have seized the upper hand in the 2nd Test against Zimbabwe, and it’s all down to a combination of cool-headed batting from Shadman Islam and destructive bowling by Taijul Islam. At stumps on Day 2 in Chattogram, the home side enjoyed a 64-run lead, keeping their momentum rolling in the ICC Test Championship.
It wasn’t looking bad for Zimbabwe at the start. They won the toss, batted first, and watched as Sean Williams and Nick Welch stitched together a 90-run partnership for the third wicket. Williams batted with authority for his 67, and Welch looked just as composed nailing 54 off 109 balls. Their calm threatened to take Zimbabwe to a competitive total, but things unraveled quickly after lunch.
Taijul Islam stepped up when it mattered, ripping through the Zimbabwean lineup. His spell turned lethal as he claimed six wickets for just 60 runs, decimating the middle and lower order. In fact, after Williams and Welch’s stand, Zimbabwe lost their next seven wickets for only 55 runs. The visitors’ innings ended at a modest 227, much less than they’d hoped after a solid start.
Bangladesh Batters Respond Confidently in Chattogram
If there’s a blueprint for settling a Test innings after an early collapse, Shadman Islam might have just written it today. Coming in at the top, he stood tall while wickets tumbled occasionally at the other end. His 120 was all about patience—digging in, picking the right balls, and waiting for the bowlers to tire. Mushfiqur Rahim played the perfect supporting act with 40, pushing the Bangladesh total past Zimbabwe’s—and setting the stage for a possible massive first-innings difference.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers had their moments. The young and promising Vincent Masekesa managed to squeeze some hope out of a frustrating day with figures of 3 for 44, including some smartly set-up dismissals. Richard Ngarava and Sikandar Raza also chipped in, but the Bangladesh batsmen, especially Shadman, absorbed pressure well. After Shadman departed, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (16 not out) and Taijul (5 not out) kept things steady to see out the final overs of the day.
With a 64-run cushion at stumps and plenty of time left in the match, Bangladesh find themselves holding the cards. Zimbabwe’s bowlers will need something special on Day 3 to claw back in this crucial Bangladesh cricket and Zimbabwe Test contest. For the hosts, though, the script is running smoothly, just as it did in the first Test. The crowd in Chattogram can feel the confidence—and unless there’s a swift turnaround, Bangladesh look set to press their advantage hard as this ICC Test Championship clash rolls on.
