Lack of discipline ‘a matter of big concern’ – Mahmudullah

It started with Hamilton Masakadza and Sean Williams scoring half-centuries to take Zimbabwe to 282 and then Tendai Chatara and Sikandar Raza returning three-fors to shoot Bangladesh out for 143. Taijul Islam’s 11 for the Test then set up a 321-run chase, but all Bangladesh managed was 169 – Raza picking up 3/41 and Brandon Mavuta 4/21.

None of the Bangladesh batsmen hit a half-century across two innings. Ariful Haque in the first dig and Imrul Kayes in the second were the only ones to top 40. It was a far from ideal show with the bat.

“It is really difficult to explain such batting,” said Mahmudullah, the Bangladesh captain, after the game. “The discipline we need in Test cricket, I don't think we played the game in such a disciplined manner as far as batting is concerned.

“We have to look at our disciplinary issues. We have to also increase the belief among ourselves and of course we have to work more on our batting. In last few matches, our batters have failed which make us concede embarrassing defeats. We have to think about these things and find out the way.”

For Zimbabwe, it was a first Test win after September 2013, when they beat Pakistan in Harare; they had lost 11 and drawn one Test since before tasting victory in Sylhet. Bangladesh, so strong at home usually, have now lost four Tests in a row, the sequence starting at home when Sri Lanka beat them in February this year.

“We are having a good run in ODIs but somehow we cannot maintain the same discipline when it comes Test cricket and it is a matter of big concern for us,” conceded Mahmudullah, who himself scored 0 and 16. “We have to consider it very seriously because if we keep on batting like this we will certainly have no place in Test cricket.

“This is an issue of our image and we need to make a strong fightback otherwise there is no point playing Test cricket like this. We are playing too many strokes and perhaps we are doing it emotionally and we need to restrict it. We need to be more careful and we need to plan better against different bowlers.

“We need to talk with our batsman and have to know what they are thinking. As far as I am concerned, I wanted to bat positively because I felt that if I could bat long and make some partnership we could take the game closer.”

It was cause for celebration in the other camp, as Zimbabwe put up an exceedingly good show.

“Even big Test playing countries come here and struggle to beat Bangladesh in Bangladesh– it's a huge win for us, psychologically, mentally,” said Lalchand Rajput, the coach. “This will definitely revive Zimbabwean cricket.

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“We have started believing that we can't only win at home, we can win abroad as well. This is the first step and we need to kick on from here. The way that we came back after the ODI series 3-0 whitewash, we were really prepared for it. I'm happy that the boys have done justice to their talent. It's a great day for us.”

Sticking to the subject of Zimbabwe cricket’s revival, Rajput added, “Teams around the world will know that Zimbabwe is getting back to the team they were earlier. If you look at Zimbabwean cricket in the 90s, they had a fantastic team. This win will definitely revive that, bring the confidence of players, and I think it's a great thing for the Zimbabwe board, because the board has really persisted with these players.

“They have been patient, and now the day has come. I'm sure everyone back home, the Zimbabwe board, the public and the whole country will be proud of this.”

Rajput, the former India opener, indicated that the difference between the two sides was in the hunger of the visitors.

“We were hungry to win. We wanted really badly to win the match because we had been losing in previous games. That was a key area, because if you're hungry for success, you'll do well,'” he said.

“Over the years, Zimbabwe have not been doing well in Test cricket, they've had their problems. But when you win, all these problems are pushed aside.”