Zim five down at stumps

Following the wicket of Sean William, Zimbabwe consolidated to reach 236 for five at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh as Peter Moor and Regis Chakabva saw out the remaining overs without any further loss of wickets.

Moor remained unbeaten on 37 while Chakabva was not out on 20 at close of play. Taijul Islam was Bangladesh's best bowler, picking up two wickets for 86 runs.

Earlier, Sean Williams was on course for a century but skipper Mahmudullah Riyad, known for his ability to break partnerships, brought himself on and removed Williams after a solid 88-run knock from the left-hander. Williams and Peter Moor contributed with a 72-run fifth-wicket partnership before the former nicked a Riyad delivery to first slip.

Second session: Zim 149/4 in 62 overs

Bangladesh picked up two more wickets in the second session as Zimbabwe went to Tea at 149 for four. Abu Jayed picked up the wicket of Masakadza early on in to the second session with an in-swinger that dirted back and rapped the set Zimbabwe captain on the pads. Debutant Nazmul then bagged his first Test wicket by sending back Sikander Raza, who saw his stumps disturbed after being beaten by an arm-ball.

Sean Williams was still the man in form for Zimbabwe and the left hander struck another fifty before the players went to Tea. 

First session: Zim 85/2 in 31 overs

The first session of play saw a pretty balanced duel between bat and ball as Zimbabwe reached 85 for 2 in the first session after winning the toss and electing to bat first at the Sylhet International Cricket Ground against Bangladesh. Taijul got both breakthroughs for Bangladesh, bagging the wickets opener Brian Chari, out bowled trying to play across the line and Brendon Taylor, who was taken at silly point by Nazmul Hossain.

However things evened out towards the end of the first session as Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza remained unbeaten on a well-made half-century. Partnering him at the other end was Zimbabwe's man-in-form Sean Williams. 

Tigers had handed debuts to Ariful Haque and Nazmul Islam. Pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped as Bangladesh opted for three spinners in Nazmul, Taijul Islam and Mehedi Miraz. Abu Jayed Rahi was picked in the side and he, along with Ariful are the only pace bowling options in the side. 

In the absence of two stalwarts -- Test and T20 skipper Shakib Al Hasan and opener Tamim Iqbal -- the first Test against Zimbabwe in Sylhet from today will be a test for stand-in skipper Mahmudullah Riyad to maintain the momentum mustered during the whitewash in the preceding three-match ODI series.

Bangladesh : Liton Das, Imrul Kayes, Nazmul Hossain, Mominul Haque, Ariful Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Nazmul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mehedi Miraz, Abu Jayed

Zimbabwe : Hamilton Masakadza, Brian Chari, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, PJ Moor, Regis Chakabva (wk), Brandon Mavuta, Wellington Masakadza, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara

More to follow...