Captain Shakib Al-Hasan and Mahmudullah starred with bat and ball as Bangladesh finished their tour of Zimbabwe with a 93-run win in the final One Day International in Bulawayo yesterday.
The victory gave the Tigers some consolation as they will leave the southern African country with back-to-back wins in the five-match limited-overs series after they lost the first three ODIs and the one-off Test.
After being asked to bat first by Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor, Shakib hit 79 runs and Mahmudullah scored an unbeaten 60 to help Bangladesh to a competitive 253 for six in their 50 overs. The hosts’ chase got off to a poor start when Taylor edged Rubel Hossain’s ball outside off-stump to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim at the start of the second over. Vusi Sibanda (34) and Hamilton Masakadza (28) steadied the ship with a 57-run second-wicket partnership, but Zimbabwe suffered a triple blow in five overs as Bangladesh’s spinners started to take charge.
Sibanda was caught at short third man after skying a pull off Shakib, Masakadza was out lbw to Abdur Razzak and Tatenda Taibu contributed just seven before he was trapped right in front by the Bangladesh captain.
Matt Waller settled some nerves with a half-century and he was well supported by Forster Mutizwa (27) as they eased the hosts to 140. However, Zimbabwe suffered another collapse and they lost their last six wickets for just 20 runs.
A brilliant run-out from Shakib accounted for Mutizwa and the wickets kept falling as Mahmudullah ran through the middle and lower order. The spinner finished with three wickets for 13 runs in four overs as Elton Chigumbura (one), Waller (51) and Prosper Utseya (duck) all departed in quick succession.
Raymond Price was the last man out after he slashed Shafiul Islam to backward point. Keegan Meth didn’t bat after losing two teeth and cracking another while he was bowling. Nasir Hossain smacked a full toss straight back to him and his teeth took the full brunt of the blow.
Earlier, Shakib and Mahmudullah scored crucial half-centuries to lead Bangladesh to a competitive target. On a good batting wicket at Queens Sports Club, Shakib top-scored with 79 runs, facing 71 balls in a knock that included five boundaries and a six.
The 24-year-old Bangladesh skipper shared a crucial sixth-wicket stand of 107 runs with Mahmudullah, who was unbeaten on 60 from 67 balls.
Zimbabwe spinner Ray Price led the home side with figures of three for 51.
