Zimbabwe off to flying start on Test return

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HARARE: Zimbabwe were 102 for one at lunch on the opening day of their one-off Test against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club here on Thursday.

Tinotenda Mawoyo and Vusi Sibanda got the hosts off to a flying start on their return to Test cricket after a six year absence.

The only blip came in the last over of the session when Mawoyo, on his Test debut, fell to Rubel Hossain trying a cut and he was caught at deep point by Mahmududullah.
He scored 43 with five boundaries and until this mistake he was never in trouble against a modest attack.

Sibanda will continue after lunch on 50, his highest score in Tests.

Zimbabwe can be well pleased with this performance, especially as it was achieved on a greenish wicket and after being put in by Shakib al Hassan after he won the toss.

Neither opener made any mistakes before the dismissal of Mawoyo, except for a scare in the first few minutes when they escaped a narrow run out of Sibanda. Although this was Mawoyo's first Test innings and only Sibanda's fourth they had the look of seasoned batsmen at this level.

Zimbabwe have a strong looking batting line-up to come and will be looking for a large opening total by the close of play. Bangladesh are desperate for breakthroughs in the next session, otherwise the match could appear to be slipping away from them.