The way Zimbabwe embarked on their series-winning mission in the second and last Test in Mirpur’s unpredictable wicket could not maintain it on the latter part of the opening day’s game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday.

It was fast-bowler Kyle Jarvis, who gave a stunning breakthrough for Zimbabwe removing openers Imrul Kayes and Liton Kumar Das in emphatic fashion that astounded the sparse home crowd of the stadium for a little while.

In contrary, the breakthrough produced a hope in Zimbabwe’s ranks that is the identical scenario going to be placed in Mirpur. But together with Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque made a gritty resistance and gradually brought the team from Zimbabwe’s grip. The pair clattered 266 for the fourth-wicket partnership that eclipsed the previous record of 180 set by Mominul Haque and Liton Das in 2018.

Kyle Jarvis acknowledged it and said, “There was still a bit in it for the seamers all day. They batted really well, and for about three hours there we didn’t bowl well at all.”

“We gave them some scoring opportunities on a wicket where we shouldn’t have gone for many runs,” Jarvis told media after the end of the day one game in Mirpur yesterday.

Giving the credit to Bangladesh batsmen- Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque, the Zimbabwean fast-bowler said that they had chances to take five to six wickets of the home side.

“I thought this morning there was a bit of moisture. It was conducive to seam bowling this morning,” he said.

“Credit’s got to go to Mominul and Mushfiqur. They battled through a really tough time out there, and they batted really well and really sensibly. Credit must go to them, because it could easily have been five or six wickets down early,” he added.

“That little session for us wasn’t good enough. We won the first hour, and then they won the rest of the day up until that last hour. We work in hours to help explain it. They won the majority of the day except for the first hour and maybe the last.”