Rousing return for Zimbabwe

Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda made half-centuries as Zimbabwe surprisingly dominated on the first day of its return to Test cricket against Bangladesh Thursday.

Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda made half-centuries as Zimbabwe surprisingly dominated on the first day of its return to Test cricket against Bangladesh Thursday.

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Masakadza was 88 not out as Zimbabwe reached stumps at Harare Sports Club on a commanding 264-2. Sibanda was out for 78, his first Test half century. Zimbabwe's top-order batsmen combined for partnerships of 102, 60 and 102 to take early control in its first test in six years after being put in to bat by Bangladesh.

Medium pacer Rubel Hossain (2-58) was the only wicket-taker for the visitors.

The one-off Test is Zimbabwe's first since 2005, when a fallout between senior players and administrators led to an exodus of its top cricketers and the self-imposed exile.