ZIM vs BAN 1st Test: Zimbabwe Shock Bangladesh To End 7-Year Away Test Drought

In one of the most dramatic turnarounds in cricket history, Zimbabwe pulled off an improbable win, taking down Bangladesh by three wickets in the ZIM vs BAN 1st Test on April 23, 2025. This win took Zimbabwe to a 1-0 lead in the two-test Test series, but more importantly, it gave Zimbabwe their first away test win in seven years, restoring hope and celebration amongst Zimbabwean cricket fans.

Historic Away Win for Zimbabwe in Sylhet

In the opening Test, which was in Sylhet, Craig Ervine’s Zimbabwean team chased the target of 174 runs in the third session of Day 4 after a determined effort by spin bowling from Bangladesh, getting Zimbabwe their first away Test win since June 2018 when they beat Bangladesh, and only the fourth Test win overall in their Test history.

Zimbabwe’s Away Test Wins:

– 1998 vs Pakistan

– 2013 vs Bangladesh

– 2018 vs Bangladesh

– 2025 vs Bangladesh (ZIM vs BAN 1st Test)

Brian Bennett and Muzarabani Lead Zimbabwe’s Charge

Zimbabwe’s chase was built on a solid 95-run opening stand between Brian Bennett (50+) and Ben Curran. Bennett, who registered his *second half-century of the match, was a key figure in stabilizing the innings. Curran fell after misjudging Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s delivery, triggering a collapse that saw wickets fall in quick succession.

Blessing Muzarabani was the hero with the ball, producing a match-winning spell of 6/72 in the second innings and 3/50 in the first, proving why the Sylhet pitch suited his pace bowling better than the local seamers.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s Heroics in Vain

Despite having a 10-wicket match (taking them 5-wicket spells in both innings) himself, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was unable to stop Zimbabwe from winning the match.

His important crucial wickets, combined with two wickets from Taijul Islam, had instilled some hope into the body of Bangladesh. However, at the end of the day, Wessly Madhevere ended up stranded on 19, helped by and combined with small but critical contributions from Wellington Masakadza (12) and Richard Ngarava (4*).

Bangladesh’s Batting Falters Again

Bangladesh then scored 255 in their second innings, where fighting half-centuries were scored by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Jaker Ali. But the middle order, which had experienced names such as Mushfiqur Rahim, could not capitalize, so that Zimbabwe was left with an achievable target.

Earlier in the game, Bangladesh had scored 191 in their first innings, and Zimbabwe replied with 273, creating a vital lead. Even with a good bowling effort by Nahid Rana and another five-for by Mehidy, the hosts were unable to take control of the game.

Pitch Conditions: Sylhet Favors the Brave

Although Sylhet’s pitch is generally favorable to pace, Zimbabwe’s bowlers, particularly Muzarabani, extracted far more from the surface than Bangladesh’s pace attack. This forced the home team to rely heavily on their spinners, which eventually wasn’t enough to stop the determined Zimbabwean lineup.

ZIM vs BAN Test Series: What’s Next?

The second and final Test of the ZIM vs BAN 2025 Test series will be played from April 28 to May 2 in Chattogram. Zimbabwe will be hoping to create history with a Test series win on Bangladeshi soil, while the hosts would hope to reinvigorate and make it a series.

Zimbabwe’s Grit Reaps Rewards

The ZIM vs BAN 1st Test displayed all the traits of Zimbabwe’s perseverance, crafty bowling, and cool batting under pressure; it’s their first overseas Test win for seven years, and could be a bold statement in the expected future route of their red-ball cricket story.

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