Liton Das leads Bangladesh's fightback on day 1

Liton Das struck Test career-best of 95 on Wednesday as Bangladesh reached 294/8 by the end of first day's play in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe. With the visitors struggling at 132/6, Das and Mahmudullah came together and put on 138 runs for the seventh wicket at Harare Sports Club.

Das bettered his previous best of 94 against Sri Lanka in 2018 before being caught by Victor Nyauchi off Donald Tiripano. Das struck 13 fours off 147 balls during a 200-minute stand at the crease.

Recalled Mahmudullah was unbeaten at the close on 54 -- the third highest contribution after Das and captain Mominul Haque, whose 70 stabilized an innings that began disastrously. Top-order pair Saif Hassan (0) and Najmul Hossein Shanto (2) were back in the hut with just eight runs on board after Blessing Muzarabani struck twice.

Mominul matched Das by hitting 13 fours and put on 70 off 92 balls in 157-minute stay at the crease before being caught by Dion Myers off Nyauchi. Mahmudullah, whose last Test appearance was in February 2020 against Pakistan, notched five fours in his half-century.

Muzarabani was the most successful Zimbabwe bowler with 3-48. Tiripano and Nyauchi took two wickets each while Richard Ngarava claimed one for the hosts, who fielded without captain Sean Williams after he came into contact with several people who tested positive for Covid-19.

The one-off Test will be followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is later this month.

Bangladesh hosted Zimbabwe last year and completed a six-match clean sweep, winning a Test, three ODIs and two T20Is.