Zimbabwe 410 (Kaia 140, Madhevere 77*, Taijul 7‑138) comfortably defeated Bangladesh 140 (Mominul 60, Nyamhuri 4‑61, Ngarava 2‑18) and 185 (Mushfiqur 34, Muzarabani 4‑65, Ngarava 3‑32) by an innings and 85 runs.
This triumph marked the first occasion that Zimbabwe has won two consecutive Test matches by an innings margin. Their previous win, against Afghanistan in October 2025 at the same venue, was also achieved by an innings and 73 runs.
After conceding a formidable 270‑run first‑innings lead, Bangladesh collapsed once again and were all out for 185 in the second innings. Blessing Muzarabani was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 65 runs.
The Bangladesh openers began modestly, 40 for 1, but were rattled early. Muzarabani exploited his bowling in short deliveries before he landed full, longer balls that yielded decisive dismissals of Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mominul Haque. Joy was caught by the gully after a striking shot finished on the shoulder of the bat, while Haque, playing a risky drive, edged to Brad Evans at third slip.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim attempted to steady the game, each using markedly different styles. Shanto played aggressively, pulling and driving, whereas Mushfiqur adopted a defensive stance, leaving the ball often and even taking a few knocks on the body.
The pair pushed Bangladesh past 100, but Newman’s delivery to Shanto’s stubs broke a 61‑run partnership. An attempted yorker swung to a low full toss; Shanto attempted a drive, but an inside edge requisitioned the stumps, concluding his brief 30 off 41.
Mushfiqur’s innings was curtailed shortly after lunch when Muzarabani grabbed him behind the wickets for a respectable 34. Later, Tawhid Hridoy edged a length pass to third slip, and a subsequent sharp ball from Brian Bennett at gully claimed the next wicket.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers took control early; Amite Hasan and Taijul unbalanced the side for a while, contributing 34 off 44 in pursuit of the seventh wicket, before Evans caught Taijul behind from a short ball down the leg-side.
Richard Ngarava accelerated the finish by producing a pair of wickets in a single over. Muzarabani, however, fell short of a five‑for, though he was present for the tenth wicket’s dismissal when Hasan Mahmud mistimed a pull off Nyamhuri. Muzarabani darted from mid‑on to complete the catch.
Consistent with the first innings, all ten wickets were taken by Zimbabwe’s seamers. This marked only the second occasion in their Test history that every wicket fell to fast bowlers, the first being in 1993 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Incentive Kaia, who scored his maiden Test century, equalling Bangladesh’s first‑innings total on his own with 140, was awarded Player of the Match.
