Bangladesh batsman Nasir Hossain plays a stroke during the first of the three matches of the ODI series between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, yesterday.
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe:Ziaur Rahman’s maiden five-wicket haul in just his fourth one-day international saw Bangladesh record a comprehensive 121-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first of a three-match series in Bulawayo.
After Shafiul Islam’s strikes put Zimbabwe on the back foot early in their chase of 270, Ziaur’s five for 30 snuffed out any hope of a revival as the hosts were bowled out for 148.
Although Bangladesh have a healthy record at Queens Sports Club, winning six out of eight one-dayers before this encounter, the margin by which Zimbabwe lost led captain Brendan Taylor to brand the defeat a “shocker”.
“We were happy restricting them to 269 (for eight) on a flat wicket, but we didn’t bat well,” he said. “There’s no room for excuses. We kept finding ways to get out.”
Despite losing Regis Chakabva and Pakistan-born debutant Sikandar Raza in the opening four overs of their reply, Zimbabwe recovered through Taylor’s 33 and Hamilton Masakadza’s 38.
However, when Taylor was bowled by Abdur Razzak the floodgates soon opened, as Zimbabwe lost four wickets without adding a run to slump to 93 for seven.
Three of those dismissals were to Ziaur, who returned later to find reverse swing and grab the wickets of Malcolm Waller and Tinashe Panyangara.
When Shingirai Masakadza’s spirited knock of 33 from as many deliveries was ended by Robiul Islam, Bangladesh had a handsome victory.
“We are always happy with such wins,” said captain Mushfiqur Rahim. “It was an important match because it was the series opener.”
Bangladesh were also indebted to Nasir Hossain, who continued his good form with the bat in rescuing Bangladesh from a mid-innings collapse.
The tourists made a steady start after being put in to bat - with Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful putting on 65 for the first wicket - only for Shingirai Masakadza to remove the pair in his opening two overs and then Mushfiqur Rahim in his fifth.AFP
