Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, 2014-15

At Mirpur, October 25-27, 2014. Bangladesh won by three wickets. Toss: Zimbabwe. Test debuts: Jubair Hossain; T. Kamungozi.
After two days this match was intriguingly poised: two overs into their second innings Zimbabwe were only nine runs behind. But 17 wickets tumbled for 210 on a crazy third day, which ended with Bangladesh stumbling over the line. Their fifth Test victory ended a run of 12 defeats in all formats.

Zimbabwe's goose was all but cooked before lunch on that third day, when they lost seven wickets. Taijul Islam, in only his third Test, demolished them with eight for 39, Bangladesh's best figures, beating Shakib Al Hasan's seven for 36 against New Zealand at Chittagong in 2008-09. Taijul and Shakib, who had collected six in the first innings himself, took advantage of a Mirpur surface offering unusual pace and bounce. Not afraid to flight the ball, Taijul bowled straight and let the pitch do the rest. Only two left-armers - both spinners - had recorded better figures in Tests: Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka just two months earlier, against Pakistan in Colombo, and Johnny Briggs for England in South Africa, way back in 1888-89.

The Bangladesh board's decision to use Indian SG balls (rather than Kookaburras) might have helped their cause. By the third day, disconcerting bounce and considerable turn were making things difficult - although there was some inept batting from both sides. Bangladesh were left needing just 101, but gave their supporters the vapours by collapsing to nought for three, only the fifth such scoreline in Test history. It might have got worse: both Mahmudullah and Shakib were dropped by Nyumbu in the gully before the total passed five, but they survived to settle some nerves in a stand of 46.

Still it wasn't over. Chigumbura, who had taken two of the early wickets, returned after tea with a double-wicket maiden, and Bangladesh were soon 82 for seven. But Taijul was in no mood to see his bowling go to waste, and collected 15 of the 19 required - including a pulled four to win the match - as his captain Mushfiqur Rahim looked on approvingly from the other end.

The twists and turns of the third day were a far cry from the sober cricket that had preceded it. Zimbabwe's opener, Sikandar Raza, hung on for more than three hours for 51, but the rest of the batting was disappointing: seven others reached double figures, none made it past 34. "Long knocks are our major worry," admitted Taylor. "Twenties and thirties won't help." Zimbabwe's total looked rather better when Bangladesh could improve it by only 14. Mominul Haque made 53, while Mahmudullah resisted for three and a half hours for 63 - but otherwise only Mushfiqur lasted for long as seamer Panyangara picked up a maiden Test five-for.
Man of the Match: Taijul Islam.