Dropped Catches Give Bangladesh a Lifeline as Sylhet Test Hangs in the Balance

Two dropped catches late on Day Two gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope in the Sylhet Test against Zimbabwe. After losing opener Sadman Islam early in the second innings, Mahmudul Hasan Joy struggled to find rhythm but managed to survive two chances — helping Bangladesh end the day on a positive note.

With nine wickets in hand and trailing Zimbabwe by just 25 runs, Bangladesh will begin Day Three looking to build on a steady 44-run unbeaten partnership between Joy and the experienced Mominul Haque. Joy will resume on 28*, while Mominul remains not out on 15 — both batters eyeing a crucial session ahead against a rested Zimbabwean attack.

While Zimbabwe dominated proceedings on Day One, Bangladesh clawed their way back into the contest on Day Two. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who claimed a five-wicket haul in the first innings, believes his team can take control if they post a challenging target.

Speaking at the press conference, Miraz said, “If we can bat properly and score 350–400 runs, that would be great for the team. In Test cricket, a target of around 300 is always difficult to chase — especially as the pitch begins to change. We need to bat with that responsibility.”

He added, “If we, as batters, can step up and put together a strong total, we’ll be in a good position to defend it later in the match.”

Despite trailing slightly, Miraz feels Bangladesh still holds the upper hand. However, Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett disagrees. He sees this as a golden opportunity for his side to pull off a win on Bangladeshi soil.

“I think we have a great chance to win this match,” Bennett said. “We’re still ahead by 20–30 runs (officially 25). Our bowlers will be well-rested tonight and ready to go hard in the morning. Nobody knows what can happen — there’s still a lot of cricket left in this game. We’ll give it our all tomorrow.”

As Day Three looms, both teams sense an opportunity — but much will depend on the morning session, where momentum could tilt decisively in either direction.