Al Hasan finished with figures of 6-59 off 24.5 overs

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan ripped through Zimbabwe’s batting line-up with a six-wicket haul to restrict them to 240 on the first day of the first Test in Mirpur.

However, Zimbabwe opener Sikandar Raza deserves some credit as he scored a gutsy 51.

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor would have been regretting his decision to bat first after opening batsman Vusi Sibanda was caught behind off the bowling of Shahadat Hossain for six runs.

Hamilton Masakadza only made 13 runs before he was caught by debutant Jubair Hossain at mid-off off the bowling of Al Hasan.

Raza and Taylor stabilised the innings with a 52-run partnership before Taylor was caught by Taijul Islam at mid-off for 28 runs to give Jubair Hossain his first Test wicket.

Raza went on to score 51 off 122 balls, which included six boundaries, before he was caught by Mahmudullah at short cover off the bowling of Jubair Hossain.

Raza hit six boundaries during his valiant innings of 51

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Elton Chigumbura managed to make 29 runs before he was caught by Mominul Haque off the bowling of Al Hasan.

Craig Ervine and Regis Chakabva stemmed the bleeding with a 50-run partnership before Ervine was caught by Haque at short leg off the bowling of Taijul Islam for 34.

Chakabva ended up making 25 runs before he was caught by Shamsur Rahman at slip off the bowling of Al Hasan.

John Nyumbu mustered 14 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Al Hasan.

Nyumbu decided to review the decision, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit middle stump halfway up. This led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.

Tinashe Panyangara fared no better as he was caught by Marshall Ayub, who was the substitute fielder, at deep backward square leg for eight runs to give Al Hasan his 12th five-wicket haul.

Zimbabwe were bundled out for 240 when Tafadzwa Kamungozi was caught by Rahman at short square leg off the bowling of Al Hasan.

Al Hasan was easily the pick of the bowlers with six wickets, while Jubair Hossain snapped up two and Islam and Shahadat Hossain chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Trailing by 240, Bangladesh got off to a poor start as opening batsman Tamim Iqbal was caught by Masakadza off the bowling of Panyangara for five runs.

Haque and Rahman put together an unbeaten 17-run partnership before stumps was called.

Haque finished on 14 off 21 balls, which included one boundary, while Rahman remained undefeated on eight off 41 deliveries, which included one boundary as well.

Panyangara was the only bowler to take a wicket.

Bangladesh ended day one on 27/1 and will continue batting tomorrow at 09:30 local time or 03:30 GMT.