CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, (Reuters) – All-rounder Naeem Islam held his nerve to score an unbeaten 73 from 90 balls and lead Bangladesh to a one-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the fifth one-day international yesterday. The hosts won the five-match series 4-1.
Naeem’s maiden one-day international half-century took his team to 222 for nine from 49 overs after Zimbabwe had scored 221 for nine from their 50 overs. Brendon Taylor compiled an unbeaten 118, his first one-day century. The right-hander struck medium-pacer Justice Chibhabha for three sixes off consecutive deliveries in the 48th over after Bangladesh had lost their ninth wicket for 187 runs.
Nazmul Hossain then scored just one run in a last wicket partnership of 35 with Naeem.
Zimbabwe had looked set for a consolation victory after Taylor’s lone battle against the Bangladesh spinners.
Scoreboard
Zimbabwe innings
S. Masakadza c Zunaed b Razzak 10
M. Vermuelen c Zunaed b Razzak 7
B. Taylor not out 118
E. Chigumbura c Rahim b Mahmud 38
M. Waller b Mahmud 0
S. Matsikenyeri st Rahim b Mahmud 8
F. Mutizwa c & b Shakib 5
J. Chibhabha c Zunaed b Shakib 0
G. Cremer b Shakib 10
R. Price lbw b Razzak 13
C. Mpofu not out 0
Extras (lb-1 w-11) 12
Total (nine wickets, 50 overs) 221
Fall of wickets: 1-12 2-18 3-80 4-80 5-104 6-113 7-113 8-145 9-199
Bowling: Nazmul 10-2-27-0, Razzak 10-0-56-3, Shakib 10-1-29-3, Enamul 10-0-41-0, Mahmud 9-0-52-3, Naeem 1-0-15-0
Bangladesh innings
T. Iqbal run out 2
Z. Siddique c Waller b Mpofu 19
M. Ashraful run out 5
R. Hassan st Taylor b Cremer 31
S. Hasan st Taylor b Matsikenyeri 20
M. Ashraful c Cremer b Matsikenyeri 23
M. Ullah run out 33
N. Islam not out 73
A. Razzak c Mutizwa b Chibhabha 0
E. Haque lbw b Chibhabha 0
N. Hossain not out 1
Extras (lb-6 w-8 nb-1) 15
Total ( nine wickets, 49 overs) 222
Fall of wickets: 1-8 2-42 3-75 4-102 5-105 6-174 7-179 8-179 9-187
Bowling: Mpofu 10-1-38-1 (w-3), Price 10-2-33-0 (w-2), Chigumbura 7-0-31-0 (w-1 nb-1), Chibhabha 7-1-52-2, Cremer 10-0-37-1, Matsikenyeri 5-0-25-2 (w-2)