Reapplying tried and tested methods in Chattogram after the defeat in Sylhet worked wonders for Bangladesh as they made easy work off Zimbabwe in the second Test, rolling them over by an innings and 106 runs inside three days and levelled the two-match series 1-1 today.

In the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, which Zimbabwe won by three wickets, spin and pace had almost an equal say in the proceedings, as the fast bowlers took 18 wickets while spinners claimed 19 across four innings.

In Sylhet, Bangladesh had hoped that its three-pronged pace attack would rattle the opposition, however, it was the Zimbabwean pace trio led by the impressive Blessing Muzarabani that outshone the local quicks and outfoxed the host batters.

In Chattogram, however, spin ruled over pace and with their superior spin attack, the hosts ran circles around the tourists.

Bangladesh bundled out Zimbabwe twice in three days, and out of the 20 wickets they took, only one fell to a fast bowler, the debutant Tanzim Sakib in the first innings.

The three Bangladeshi spinners claimed 17 wickets – Taijul Islam taking nine wickets which included a five-wicket haul in the first innings, Mehedi Hasan Miraz took five in the second innings and Nayeem Hasan snapped up three – while the remaining two wickets were run-outs.

Like Bangladesh, Zimbabwe also bulked up their spin bowling for the match, dropping medium pacer Victor Nyauchi and handing a debut to leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa.

Although Masekesa claimed five wickets on debut, he couldn't stop Bangladesh from posting an imposing 444 in their first and only batting innings in the match.

Pacer Muzarabani, who was player-of-the-match in the Sylhet Test with nine wickets in total which included a 6-72 in the second innings, didn't look half as threatening at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram, toiling for 26 overs for just one wicket.

Meanwhile, the other pacer Richard Ngarava went wicketless in his 14 overs.

The conditions took the sting out of Zimbabwe's pace attack, which aided Bangladesh to form a century opening stand after 33 innings with Shadman Islam and the returning Anamul Haque making 118 runs together.

Anamul's comeback knock ended on 39 but Shadman took full toll of the situation and notched up his second Test ton.

The middle-order failed to cash in on the excellent foundation but Miraz's century and crucial contributions from Taijul (20) and Tanzim (41) more than made up for it. Spinners taking wickets in bulk and lower order contributions, both were missing in the first Test for Bangladesh. Both these factors returned in Chattogram and the Tigers also returned to winning ways.