Zimabawe 240 All Out [ Sikandar Raza 51, CR Ervine 34 ,E Chigumbura 29 ,BRM Taylor 28 ,Shakib Al Hasan 6/59 ,Zubair Hussain 2/58) and 110 All Out ( BRM Taylor 45* , Taijul Islam 8/32 lost to Bangladesh 254 All Out [ Mushfiqur Rahim 64 ,Mahmudullah Riad 63 ,Mominul Huq 53 , Panyangara 5/59 ] and 101 /7 [ Mahmudullah Riad 28, Mushfiqur Rahim 23* , Taijul Islam 15* ] by three wickets
Player of the Match: Taijul Islam
Majestic record breaking bowling performance by Tiger cab Taijul Islam (8/39) and cool like cucumber Mushfiq holding his nerves at crucial stage of the match led Bengal tigers to a thrilling 3 wickets win over a fighting Zimbabweans in the first of three tests “Poor Men’s Ashes “at the home Bangladesh cricket.
It was only the third day of the test and on a wicket which turned into mine field 37 wickets fell taking it to the record book for many different reasons. Zimbabwe first innings was restricted to 240 all out on the first day mainly due to sizzling Shakib performing on his excellent bowling skills (6/59).
Bangladesh did not perform any better while batting but could still manage getting a slender 14 runs lead scoring 254 all out .Mushfiq, Mahamudullah and Mominul scored effective half centuries.
Then what mattered most in the second innings Taijul mesmerized the visitors with his penetrating left arm spinning bowling. He alone destroyed the Zimbabweans making them all out for only 114. Bangladesh requiring only 101 to win also huffed and puffed against a very determined “Never Say Die “Zimbabweans. 
At 7/82 after several twists and turns a real drama unfolded. Unnerved captain Mushfiq led his charge over the rope with Taijul again giving him company at the dying stage.
It was pleasing that hero of the day hero of the match Taijul struck the winning run. Bangladesh had a very deserving win by three wickets.
Credit must also go the vanquished for making it a very nerve breaking, nail biting finish. It was after a long while Bangladesh won a test match its fifth in 85 tests over fourteen years. Bangladesh looking miserable in international cricket arena at all formats for almost a year was desperate for a win and it finally came as a lifesaving drug but may be only just.
Let us have a look at the number of milestones created in the test
Taijul Islam’s achievement of 8/39 during Zimbabwe's second innings is the best ever for a Bangladesh bowler in Tests.
The previous record, which stood for six years, was held by Shakib Al Hasan, who had taken 7 for 36 against New Zealand in Chittagong.
This was the only international match that Bangladesh won against any Full Member in 2014. Their only other victories in 2014 have come in T20Is against Nepal and Afghanistan.
It was after 62 years since the top three batsmen have all scored ducks in a Test innings.
Tamim Iqbal, Shamsur Rahman and Mominul Haque scored ducks during Bangladesh's second innings. The only other teams to have suffered this fate are Australia and India, in 1888 and 1952 respectively. 
Prior to this test only five times before a team lost three wickets without scoring a run in a Test innings. India, Pakistan, Australia and Zimbabwe have also found themselves in such a situation.
Only two left-arm spinners have better figures than Taijul Islam in Tests. Rangana Herath and Johnny Briggs have returned figures of 9 for 127 and 8 for 11, making Taijul's performance the third-best by a left-arm spinner in a Test innings.
Elton Chigumbura figures of 4 for 21 are the second-best by a pacer in the fourth innings of a Test in Bangladesh. Only Tino Best has taken five wickets.
17 wickets to fall on the third day - seven Bangladesh wickets and ten Zimbabwe wickets is the second most wickets on a test match day. The most wickets to fall in a single day during a Test match played in Bangladesh is 18 - on the third day of the Test between South Africa and Bangladesh, at Dhaka, in 2003.
Two Tests Bangladesh have won in the last five years, the fewest for any team. Bangladesh has played 25 Tests during this period. Zimbabwe, who has won the next fewest, has won three of their 12 Tests in this period.
16 wickets taken by Bangladesh's left-arm spinners - seven by Shakib and nine by Taijul is the second-most wickets taken by left-arm spinners from one team in a Test. The most wickets by left-arm spin are 17, by England, against India, in 1934.
As was reported earlier the series is going to Witness sea- saw battle of the two minnows of World Cricket. Neither side would give an inch to other and would definitely not go down without fight. Though completed within three days the excitement was tremendous and was thoroughly enjoyed my cheering admiring and adoring the players on the ground. Millions of tiger lovers all over the world also had a sigh of relief finding the tigers come out of slumber .Royal Bengal tigers are endangered species .It requires extreme care for its survival .Literally Bengal Tigers survived in its den by the skin of the teeth.
On retrospect one may say Bangladesh must consider itself a bit lucky. Chasing a very modest target of 101 they almost made a mess of it after losing top three with opening the account.
Against very purposeful bowling and razor sharp fielding wickets kept tumbling and at one stage Bangladesh was reduced to 7/82. Luckily for Bangladesh Captain Cool Mushfique was at the wicket. The hero of the match Taijul gave him admirable support. 
The pair took Bangladesh across the rope after some very agonizing and anxious moments. Bangladesh desperately required a win to come out of an alarming decline.
For almost a year the team was not performing to its potential. Various quarter started raising alarm of the credibility of the team in the elite and exclusive group of cricket. Another two test, another two win will take Bangladesh to a relative zone of comfort in ICC test ranking overtaking the Zimbabweans and closing ranks with West Indies.
Bangladesh has some issues to iron out as well. Tamim Iqbal is looking shaky; Shamsur Rahman is not looking good as well. Bangladesh needs to look for better option at opening pair. If the character of the wickets remain like this for the next two tests it won’t be bad to play with one pacer and add another left arm spinner preferably Saqlain Sajeeb .
Though Mahmudullah is looking solid again would strongly suggest Mushfique bat at number four to hold Bangladesh innings together. Bangladesh must also have a serious session or two on running between the wickets. We must follow greats Javed Miandad and Asif Iqbal’s way of running and now try to emulate great Inzimam while running.
It was a low scoring test al right but there was no dearth of excitement .People watching live or on Television and internet must have enjoyed the thrilling encounter. While another test played at the same time in Dubai between Australia and Pakistan could not attract much spectators Dhaka stadium was jam-packed with admiring cricket enthusiasts.
Zimbabweans nevertheless gave a good accountof themselves while bowling and fielding. Off course they looked terribly poor against strong Bangladesh spin bowling attacking on a double paced wicket of disconcerting bounce. They will only improve as they get a bit more used. It will not be easy for Bangladesh to wrap the series at all. There is lot to play for still.
One win must not make Bangladesh at all complacent .Zimbabwe was just piped to the post. Tigers must not relax or it will be caught napping. Batting needs significant improvement.
Players getting in must not get out playing terribly irresponsible strokes. Fifties must be converted to hundreds. Bangladesh batting needs a Hanif Mohammad, Rahul Dravid or Shiv Narayan Chandrapaul type dogged batting, grinding and grafting. We need very agile and careful running between the wicket. Keep your focus sky rocketing boys.
Cricket is unique binder for the Bangladeshi nation. It is the only way two feuding leading ladies Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson can be brought in one platform. Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia spent no time in congratulating the team on victory.
We can only imagine what will be their reactions if Bangladesh wins the series and keep winning. Why not they watch the Dhaka ODI seating side by side and applauding the tigers ?160 Million People of Bangladesh shares Cricket language and their joy and happiness knew no bounds for every win. Let us hope that one win breeds many wins in future.
BDST: 0847 HRS, OCT 28, 2014
