Bangladesh ended their long losing streak in Test cricket here today and dedicated the rare victory over Zimbabwe to the hundreds of people who died in the building collapse back home last week.
Fast bowler Robiul Islam, who won man of the series, said simply it was "for the people" in Savar after Bangladesh rebounded from a heavy defeat in the first match to level the short series with a first victory in four years by 143 runs.
Bangladesh's last win came in a 2-0 whitewash over the West Indies in 2009, and the country had only won three tests in more than a decade of playing the five-day format before the win at Harare Sports Club. The other success was also against Zimbabwe in 2005.
"A Test win is a big achievement for us," Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said. "All the pressure was on us after losing the first Test."
Robiul, using skipper Rahim as a translator, then said the long-awaited win was for the victims of the building tragedy, where more than 380 people died.
Ziaur Rahman took 4-63 on debut and spinner Shakib Al Hasan 3-52 for the tourists as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 257 in their second innings on the final day of the second Test -- well short of the target of 401 they had been set by the dominant Bangladeshis.
Hamilton Masakadza was 111 not out after hitting four sixes for Zimbabwe's only meaningful resistance, but Bangladesh still closed out the big win to end a run of nine straight series losses.
Bangladesh's long-awaited success was built on their first-innings 391 after being put in to bat by Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim responded with scores of 60 and 93 in the two innings to win man of the match, and Shakib Al Hasan and Nasir Hossain also made two half-centuries in the Test to keep the tourists in control throughout.
