Home ›› 08 Aug 2022 ›› Sport
Bangladesh managed to lose their first One-Day International series against Zimbabwe after nine years on Sunday as they succumbed to a five-wicket defeat to the hosts in Harare.
The last time Bangladesh lost an ODI series to Zimbabwe was in 2013 when they lost 2-1.
Bangladesh produced a sorry performance in all departments. They played too many dot balls and failed to capitalise on starts, their bowling was in general very poor, and they once again flopped with their fielding.
This, and yet another brilliant ton from Sikandar Raza along with Zimbabwean skipper Regis Chakavba’s maiden ODI ton helped them chase down 291 with 15 balls in hand.
Raza stayed unbeaten on 117 off 127 deliveries, hitting eight fours and four sixes, while Chakavba scored 102 runs off 75 balls.
After losing the first match, Bangladesh brought in three changes, while Zimbabwe tried out their bench strength by bringing in five. In the end, it worked for the hosts as they took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Bangladesh were put in to bat first by Chakabva, and they had quite a good start as Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque put together 71 runs in 11 overs for the opening stand. But after Tamim went for 50 off 45 deliveries, and Anamul (20) was run out, the Tigers lost all their momentum.
The third-wicket partnership between Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim (25) put together 50 off 63 balls, but it was the fourth-wicket stand between Najmul and Mahmudullah Riyad which dented their progress.
Their partnership only accumulated 21 runs in 38 balls, before Najmul was caught behind off Wessly Madhevere’s bowling for 38 off 55 deliveries.
Mahmudullah, in the dying minutes of the innings, covered up for his sluggishness as he managed to stay unbeaten on 80 runs off 84 deliveries, hitting three fours and three sixes.
In reply, Zimbabwe got off to a horror start as pacer Hasan Mahmud, who came into the XI in place of Mustafizur Rahman, dismissed Takudzwanashe Kaitano (0) and Innocent Kaia (7) with beautiful deliveries. Madhevere (2) was trapped LBW by Miraz, and Taijul then got rid of Tadiwanashe Marumani (25).
But from there on, Raza and Chakavba put together a 201-run partnership for the fifth wicket, taking the game away from Bangladesh.
The partnership could have been nipped in the bud when Raza gave Bangladesh a run-out opportunity in the 26th over. He and Chakavba tried to steal a quick single, and the throw was at the bowler’s end, towards which Raza was running.
But Miraz, who was there, grabbed the ball with his right hand and broke the stumps with his left hand, allowing the batsman to survive.
The right-handed batsmen took full toll as he reached his ton off 115 deliveries, hitting seven fours and four sixes. Skipper Chakavba was the enforcer as it took him only 73 balls to reach triple figures, hitting 10 fours and two sixes.
