Bangladesh Take Control on Rain-Hit Day in Sylhet

It wasn’t a day packed with drama; instead, it unfolded like a low-key symphony disrupted by the occasional thunder. Day 3 in Sylhet was chopped in half by persistent rain; only 44 overs made it into the scorebook. But Bangladesh made those count. With their skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto playing the calm anchor, still unbeaten on 60, the hosts built a small but significant lead of 112 runs.

Somewhere around the start of the second session when the rain had finally sulked away and the skies dried their tears fans whispered predictions and superstitions. And not without distractions; one could have seen a few checking scores on their phones some possibly sneaking into one x bed just to spice up the tension. Cricket isn’t always about patience sometimes it is about that little adrenaline rush from somewhere completely unexpected.

Zimbabwe’s Fielding Woes and Bangladesh’s Calm Climb

The opening session was swallowed whole by the monsoon mood. When the game resumed Mahmudul Hasan Joy took strike with fresh intent. He had been dropped early on Day 2 something Zimbabwe would come to regret as Bangladesh pushed ahead using small moments. Sloppy fielding crept into the Zimbabwean rhythm offering Mahmudul and Mominul Haque opportunities to rotate the strike and squeeze runs from nothing. The first boundary was a statement a simple punch down the ground yet loud enough to be heard over the drizzle of missed chances.

Blessing Muzarabani stood tall literally and figuratively. Using his height he banged in the short stuff and it paid off when Mahmudul gloved one to slip. Richard Ngarava on the other end lacked that control giving Shanto enough freedom to time a few silky drives. Add in five wides and a chaotic over turned into an 18 run gift.

Shanto Steers Through the Storm

Najmul Hossain Shanto serene calculative quietly defiant swatted one through point then another straight back past the bowler. The Bangladesh 100 came up without too many alarms. Richard Nyauchi was welcomed with a four as if invited to a party only to be seated at the kids’ table. Wessly Madhevere managed to draw a tough chance from Shanto dropped by the keeper. That summed up Zimbabwe’s afternoon.

Shanto stayed focused. Mominul though felt the itch. Two crisp boundaries off Madhevere were followed by a misjudged hook that landed in the keeper’s gloves. The 65 run partnership had ended. The calm was disturbed.

The short ball ploy was back. Zimbabwe leaned into it like a last resort. One bouncer struck Shanto’s helmet. Another kissed the edge and raced past slip. But then just before Tea Muzarabani hunted again. Mushfiqur Rahim uncomfortable and prodding nicked one to slip. His third scalp of the innings.

Evening Push and Sudden Darkness

After Tea Jaker Ali came out with intent. Three boundaries off the bat. Two were controlled one was luck flirting with the edge. He even pulled a rising Muzarabani delivery with swagger. Meanwhile Shanto raised his fifty with a cover drive that rolled like poetry on a pitch scarred with bounce.

But as the tension started to rise the light dropped. Bad light the spoilsport of cricket theatre forced an early end.

Score Summary

• Bangladesh 191 and 194 for 4 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 60 not out Mominul Haque 47; Blessing Muzarabani 3 for 51)
• Zimbabwe 273 (Sean Williams 59 Brian Bennett 57; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5 for 52)
• Bangladesh lead by 112 runs

Key Highlights

• Rain washed out the first session entirely
• Najmul Hossain Shanto remained unbeaten on 60 holding the innings steady
• Muzarabani’s pace and bounce bagged three key wickets
• Bangladesh survived Zimbabwe’s short ball bursts and sloppy fielding
• Bad light cut short a promising end to the day

And so the day ended not in chaos but in a kind of slow fade into darkness. Yet the promise of a gripping finish remains vivid. With the lead set and momentum slightly tilted in their favor Bangladesh will hope the weather clears and fortune holds its ground. If nothing else Day 3 gave us a glimpse of how rhythm and resolve can shift a match even in 44 fragmented overs.