Bangladesh vs. Zimbabwe: Biggest Performers in Day 2 Action
Bangladesh boast the slightest of leads over Zimbabwe heading into the third day of the first Test, and only nine runs separate the two teams after Sunday's close.
Below we break down Day 2's most impressive performers, and several bowlers came to the fore with fearless displays.
Shakib Al Hasan
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Whereas Bangladesh were helped in their batting efforts by the emergence of three particularly powerful hitters, Zimbabwe arguably showed greater consistency throughout their innings. Therefore, the onus was on the hosts' bowlers to perform.
Shakib Al Hasan led the way, taking six Zimbabwe wickets on Sunday. As Bangladesh Cricket shows, Shakib added to his impressive international record:
Having served a six-month international ban, he displayed just what a potent force he can be with his brand of slow left-arm orthodox.
As the Test progresses, the all-rounder may also show his worth with the bat, but for now, his contributions with the ball have been exemplary enough.
Mushfiqur Rahim
Notching the highest score of any player on Sunday, this weekend's batting action saw Mushfiqur Rahim register 64 runs, leading Bangladesh along with Mahmudullah (63) and Mominul Haque (53).
The captain's half-century was far from his first, too, as Cricket Record celebrated Mushfiqur becoming an esteemed figure in the Bangladesh history books:
Altogether, he made 10 boundaries and did as much as could be asked of a captain when facing strong bowlers eager to test one's resolve with a torrent of short deliveries.
The one criticism, as could be given to his fellow half-century hitters, is that Mushfiqur did not convert score into three figures.
Tinashe Panyangara
It's only been two months since Tinashe Pangyangara was expelled from the Zimbabwe camp for a breach in discipline, per ESPN Cricinfo's Liam Brickhill, but the nation was glad to have the 29-year-old back within its camp on Sunday.
Panyangara took five wickets for the first time in his international career to quell the Bangladesh threat, and his mentality appears to have improved tenfold as he spoke of the team's needs before his own. Devashish Fuloria ESPN Cricinfo provides quotes:
"Getting a five-for is always a good feeling. It does not matter if I was in the team or not, I'd still be happy. But I was hoping to bowl better than I did. So to get a five-for is a bonus and a five-for is a five-for, especially getting a Test five-for is always good.
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Zimbabwe Cricket was quick to praise Pangyangara for his stellar performance:
Had he not been in such flying form, the likes of Mushfiqur and Taijul Islam in particular threatened to amass more devastating scores on Day 2.
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