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IN TIGER TERRITORY . . . Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor (centre) addresses the media in Dhaka flanked by coach Steve Mangongo (left) and team manager Mufaro Chiturumani — zimcricket

DHAKA. — They are calling it the Mad Monday as 17 wickets fell at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur and, in the end, Bangladesh just held on for a nervy win in the first of three Tests against Zimbabwe.

It was also a day that young left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took 8-39 to destroy the visitors, in their second innings, and give his side a good chance of victory.

Zimbabwe were dismissed for just 114 runs but a shockwave ran through the veins of a million home fans when Tamim Iqbal, Shamsur Rahman and Mominul Haque returned to the pavilion with the scoreboard reading 0-3.

Generally, a score of 23, is something that hardly makes any impression.

But it did on Monday as Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim’s unbeaten 23 was the cornerstone of his team’s three-wicket win.

The dramatic third day of the first Test that witnessed several twists and turns and eventually boiled down to a point from where Mushfiqur, with little yet significant contributions from the tail, navigated the Tigers to their first win in any format of the game against a Test playing nation this year.

In the face of a batting carnage, Mushfiqur showed how one should apply during his one and a half hour stay at the middle and why technically he is considered as the best batsman in the side on way to end his side’s 14-match losing streak.

Bounce and seam untied Tamim while Mominul paid the price for unjustly driving on the top. Shamsur dragged a wide Tinashe Panyangara-delivery onto his stumps. Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib Al Hasan repaired the damage by adding 46 runs for the fourth wicket but they never looked comfortable and both survived at gully, where John Nyumbu was the culprit. Chigumbura dismissed Shuvagoto Hom to throw the challenge to Mushfiqur for scoring another 39 runs with the tail enders.

Shahadat lost his composure, after hitting a six, and the hosts were reduced 82 for 7.

Mushfiqur however kept his calm and encouraged Taijul (15 not out) to safely take the ship to the shore.

“Losing a match always hurts. But we can be proud of the way we fought and tried to defend a 100 runs,” said Taylor.

“Again being bowled out for 114; that’s what hurts the most. We were very disappointing. The way we got out, we didn’t really show any fight.

“At the end of the day, if we are not going to put runs on the board and put a price on our wickets, we are not going to win too many games.

“So we have got a lot to learn from this game. But I can assure you that in the second game the guys will be a lot more disciplined, lot more hungry for success.”

Numbers Game

8 for 39 — Taijul Islam’s figures are the best by a Bangladeshi. He beat Shakib Al Hasan’s 7 for 36 taken in 2008. This is also the third best bowling stats by a slow left-armer in a Test innings.

114 — Zimbabwe’s 114 in the second innings is the lowest total any team has been bowled out for by Bangladesh. This was also the fifth instance of a team getting bowled out below 200 against the Tigers.

0 for 3 — The worst-ever start in Test cricket for the Tigers. Other teams who have lost three or more wickets with zero runs on board are Australia, India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. India’s 0 for 4 in 1952 tops the list. — Daily Star/Sports Reporter.