Chattogram: Nick Welch and Sean Williams delivered stellar performances, each scoring half-centuries, to guide Zimbabwe to 161-2 at tea on the first day of the second cricket Test against Bangladesh at the Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the pair remained unbroken throughout the lunch session, effectively countering the Bangladesh bowlers who managed to contain the run flow but struggled to claim wickets. Despite the spinners extracting bounce and turn, Welch and Williams resisted with skillful batting.
Welch, unbeaten on 54, crafted his innings with three fours and two sixes from 130 balls, while Williams was not out on 55, featuring seven boundaries in his 126-ball innings. Together, they accumulated 90 runs for the third wicket, showcasing the necessary patience against disciplined bowling.
Initially aggressive, Welch adjusted his approach, valuing his wicket more as the innings progressed. His second Test fifty came from 107 balls, reached by steering a delivery from Taijul Islam past point.
Williams, known for his composure, achieved his fifth half-century by cutting a short ball from Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a single off 114 balls. The Zimbabwean openers, Brian Bennett and Ben Curran, were the only wickets to fall, both scoring 21 runs each.
Bennett and Curran managed a solid start against the pacers, easing the scoreboard rotation before Tanzim Hasan Sakib secured his debut wicket by dismissing Bennett in the 11th over. Bennett, who had posted half-centuries in both innings of the first Test, edged a delivery carrying extra bounce.
As spinners took charge, Zimbabwe’s batters faced challenges, except for Welch, who confidently stepped out to tackle the spinners. He launched sixes off both Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, yet edges were induced multiple times.
Taijul Islam’s persistence paid off with the wicket of Curran, who was deceived by a sharply turning delivery. Earlier, Curran had a reprieve when Shadman dropped a catch at first slip off Miraz’s bowling, missing the opportunity to capitalize further.