Thu, 19 Aug 2011 - Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tour of Zimbabwe 2011, 4th ODI - Bulletin

Bangladesh finally win in Zimbabwe

After defeats in the one-off test and three ODI’s, Bangladesh at last got a win on Zimbabwean soil on the current tour, comprehensively pocketing the fourth ODI by six wickets. After limiting Zimbabwe to a mediocre 199, Bangladesh romped home due to an attacking fifty by Tamim Iqbal.

The opening pair of Imrul Kayes and ever-aggressive Tamim was off the blocks on a bright note. A bout of boundaries from the two and Bangladesh were coasting at 46 in the fifth over when Imrul was caught off Mpofu for 20-ball 28. Tamim, on the other end kept sending the ball to the ropes regularly. Junaid Siddique played second fiddle to Tamim in another brisk partnership. Mushfiqur Rahim, the centurion of the last match did the same as the chase was well and truly riding the Tamim blitz.

The left hander brought up his fifty with a lofted boundary off Utseya who had a bad day and leaked 65 runs in ten overs. Though, Tamim and Mushfiqur were dismissed within a space of 18 deliveries, Bangladesh had enough depth in the line-up to overhaul the target comfortably. Shakib al Hassan and Shuvagoto Hom shared an unbeaten 74 to take the side home with 80 balls to spare. The two helped their averages with undefeated 39 and 35 respectively.

Earlier, it was because of a fighting century by skipper Brandan Taylor that enabled Zimbabwe to put some kind of a total on the board. The home batsmen threw away a decent start to be bundled out for 199 with Taylor’s 106 the lone bright spot in an otherwise lackluster batting display.

After a string of low scores in the ODI series thus far, Taylor batted with lot of purpose scoring heavily throughout the innings. He was particularly impressive against the battery of Bangladesh spinners, where as the rest of the batsmen in the line-up failed to counter their variations.

Sibanda and Taylor were steady as openers, adding 40 runs in about 9 overs before Shafiul Islam broke though removing the former for 18. Hamilton Masakadza was dismissed through a strange dismissal, Tatenda Taibu fell to some indecisive running between the wickets and when Mutizwa was removed by Shakib al Hassan, Zimbabwe had slipped to 89 for four, needing a big partnership to steady the ship.

Taylor was joined by Chigumbura and the duo set about the recovery with intelligent stroke play. The two added 94 runs to take their team out of trouble and set the stage for a late flourish. In the process, Taylor brought up his hundred with a sweep; however, when Zimbabwe took the powerplay in the very next over, a flurry of wickets pegged them back.

Rubel Hussian was the main benefactor, picking up four wickets in two overs during the fielding restrictions, including those of well-settled Chigumbura and centurion Brendon Taylor who holed out in the deep for 106. The last six Zimbabwean wickets went for just 16 runs, Bangladesh were set what proved to be an easy target of 200.

With the series already lost, the win would be no more than a morale booster for the deflated Bangladesh.