Patient Raqibul shapes Bangladesh win

Raqibul Hasan scored an unbeaten 52 off 100 balls to guide Bangladesh to a series-levelling six-wicket win in the second one-day international against Zimbabwe here on Wednesday.

Raqibul, 21, hit seven fours for his fifth one-day half-century and shared 52 runs for the third wicket with Mehrab Hossain (43) as Bangladesh surpassed a modest target of 160 with 31 balls to spare.

The win helped Bangladesh level the three-match series 1-1 after Zimbabwe won the opening game by two wickets on Monday.

The third and final one-dayer will be played here on Friday.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim hoisted Zimbabwe seamer Tawanda Mupariwa for a four and followed it up with a six over long-on to finish the game in style.

Bangladesh were in a hole at 94-3 but Raqibul and Mehrab -- brought in as a replacement for opener Junaid Siddique -- repaired the damage with their sensible batting.

Mehrab hit five fours in his 85-ball knock before being caught by Zimbabwe skipper Prosper Utseya at mid-wicket off veteran Raymond Price (1-20).

Man of the match Raqibul brought up his fifty with a clip off Mupariwa to deep midwicket while Shakib Al Hasan chipped in with a cameo 24-ball 22 with three fours.

Sean Williams and Utseya earlier shared a valuable 96-run stand for the seventh wicket to lift their side up from a precarious 47-6 in the 19th over after being put in to bat.

Williams (59) hit three fours and a six for his eighth one-day half-century before being run out by Mashrafe Mortaza who also had Utseya trapped leg-before for 38.

Utseya's patient 101-ball 38 included two fours and a six.

Paceman Nazmul Hossain was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, grabbing 3-28 off 10 disciplined overs while his new-ball partner Mortaza also returned impressive figures of 2-22.

Rubel Hossain finished with two wickets to underline a fine effort by the host bowlers.