Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto credited the total team effort to hit back with an incredible performance that won them the second and final cricket Test against Zimbabwe and avoid the ignominious series whitewash.
The home side stood on the brink of being swept for the first time at the hands of Zimbabwe on home ground following a shocking three-wicket defeat in the first Test in Sylhet.
But, they showed the character to bounce back from that disappointing defeat, said Shanto.
“Brilliant performance,” Shanto said in a word after Bangladesh confirmed the victory, crushing Zimbabwe by an innings and 106-run margin in the final Test at Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram.
“The whole team did a great job. The work they put in before the match, really happy (about it) and that is what we need to do consistently,” he added.
The captain revealed that there is no pressure on them, specially when they came into the game with the back of a defeat that forced them gauge severe criticism.
“I don’t think it is too much pressure on us. We did not play good cricket (in the first Test), but we knew we could play good cricket here because we have done that a lot of times,” Shanto disclosed.
Unlike the Sylhet Test, Bangladesh batted with steely resolve in the only innings of the second Test with the openers paved the platform of the crushing victory.
Opener Anamul Haque Bijoy, playing his first Test in three years and Shadman Islam put on a 118-run partnership, Bangladesh’s first century partnership in an opening stand since December 2022.
Bijoy though was dismissed for 39, Shadman went on to hit his second ton before being out on 120. Later, Mehidy Hasan Miraz also raised his second century in Test format to help Bangladesh take a massive 217 runs lead.
Zimbabwe crumbled under pressure of huge lead and eventually were bowled out for just 111 to concede an innings defeat with Miraz taking 5-32. Miraz also took 10 wickets in the first Test in the side’s three-wicket defeat.
Before Miraz, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam triggered Zimbabwe collapse with 6-60 as the visitors were bowled out for just 227, from a relatively strong position.
“We struggled a little with the opening partnership but the way Shadman and Bijoy batted, really impressive,” Shanto said, adding that they need to keep up this performance.