Shanto, Mominul steady as post-lunch session resumes after short rain break

The captain goes as Tigers edge towards 100 after weather clears in post-lunch session

Play has resumed after a short rain break after lunch as skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque recovered from an early setback on the first day of the opening Test against Zimbabwe.

The hosts were 93 for 2 in 29 overs with Shanto (39) and Mominul (21) unbeaten in a 61-run stand at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Victor Nyauchi (2-35) struck twice in the first hour by snaring the wickets of openers Shadman Islam (12) and Mahmudul Hasan Joy (14) drawing catches behind the wicket with outside edges.

Nyauchi could have sent Mominul packing inside the first hour as well had wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo been able to hold on to one that took the batsman’s glove on the way. The left-handed batter was yet to score when he survived the scare.

Shanto then dug deep and smashed five boundaries to steady the ship and brought up the half-century, off 77 balls partnership with Mominul.

The Tigers are attempting to set things right after poor results on home soil last year.

They won seven of their past eight encounters against Zimbabwe, with a 151-run rout registering the only defeat in Sylhet during the ground’s debut in international cricket.

The visiting team have been in a run of very poor form, unable to win a single Test in the past four years – even losing against newcomers like Afghanistan and Ireland.

Seamer Tanzim Hasan Sakib earned his maiden Test call-up to the Tigers squad. However, the team are without the services of pacer Taskin Ahmed, who is still recovering from an injury.