The visiting Bangladesh lost the first two ODIs and lost the series. So the third ODI was a match to avoid a whitewash. Tamim Iqbal’s side got a consolation win by beating hosts Zimbabwe by a huge margin of 105 runs at the Harare Cricket Club. Tigers scored 256 runs at the beginning of the match. In response, the Rhodesians were bowled out for just 151 runs.
The Bangladeshi bowlers cornered Zimbabwe in the run chase. The hosts could not overcome the pressure from there. After the departure of Sikandar Raja, the only symbol of hope for the Zimbabwe team, Bangladesh rushed to victory. But wait till the last wicket.
In the second innings of the match, opener Kaitano returned to Sajghar for a scoreless run in the first over by Hasan Mahmud. In the next over, Marumani was sent back by Mehdi Hasan Miraj. In the sixth over of the innings, Ibadat Hossain, the anointed bowler, sent the two batters to bed with two consecutive balls. Taijul Islam took the next two wickets. As a result, the team lost 6 wickets for 49 runs and was under pressure.
Only two of the first six batters reached double figures. 10 runs from the bat of Innocent Coward. And Tony Muyonga was out for 13 runs. Marumani for 1 run, Madhav for 1 run and Sikandar Raja for zero runs. Apart from this, Luke Jongwi was out for 15 runs, Clive Madandi for 24 runs, Brad Evans for 2 runs and Victor Niochi for 26 runs. And Richard Ngarava remained unbeaten on 34 runs.
Mostafizur Rahman took the maximum four wickets for Bangladesh. Apart from this, Taijul and Ibadat got two wickets each and Hasan Mahmood and Mehdi Miraz got one wicket each.
Earlier, Zimbabwean captain Sikandar Raja invited Bangladesh to bat after winning the toss at the beginning of the match. Bangladesh had a good start with the bat. But Tamim Iqbal Khan returned after being run out due to misunderstanding. He scored 19 runs before getting out. In the next over, Nazmul Hasan Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim returned to Sajghar for zero runs. The team is under pressure.
Enamul Haque Bijay and Mahmudullah Riyad took responsibility to relieve the pressure of the team in the big pair for the fourth wicket. Vijay completed his half century in between. He was leading the individual innings on the way to the century. But he was cut behind by 76 runs. His 71-ball innings was decorated with six fours and four sixes.
Shortly after that, Mahmudullah Riyad went back out. He took 39 runs off 69 balls before getting out. And 14 runs came from the bat of Mehdi Hasan Miraj. Besides, Taijul scored 5 runs. And Hasan Mahmud and Mostafizur Rahman could not open the account of runs.
Meanwhile, Afif Hossain, who came down to play for the fifth wicket, played alone till the end. With that, he picked up a personal half-century. In the end remained unbeaten on 85 runs. Playing only 81 balls, his innings is decorated with six fours and two sixes. Ibadat Hossain remained unbeaten without scoring any more runs.
(10th August)
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