(Cricinfo) Important runs and early wickets were the reason for Bangladesh’s 124-run win over Zimbabwe in the third ODI in Mirpur, which also gave them the series with two matches in hand.
The visitors sunk to a new low, recording their biggest loss in terms of runs to Bangladesh in an ODI on the back of a whitewash in the Test series. This time Zimbabwe were chasing a daunting target of 298; only once have they chased a score that high to win. There was no repeat tonight as they were bowled out for 173 runs in 39.5 overs, with Arafat Sunny picking up four wickets for a second time in as many matches. Mashrafe Mortaza and Rubel Hossain took two wickets while Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah picked up one each. But it was the runs Bangladesh had posted which were decisive.
Two polar opposite partnerships set Bangladesh on their 297-run pedestal: First came a steady 120-run accumulation between Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque which was built on by Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, who added 72 off 48 for the fourth wicket. Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman then provided the late flourish as Bangladesh carted 103 runs in the last 10 overs.
Tamim and Anamul batted for 25.5 overs and were pried apart by a run-out. A slight mix-up was followed by Tamim losing his grip on the bat while trying to slide it to safety. Both his feet were in the air as the stumps were broken. It was his second run-out in consecutive matches, after he had made 40 off 63 balls with two fours, and a six hit over long-on in the first over.
Anamul reached 50 off 66 balls, but played out 12 overs from 20.4 to 32.4 without a boundary. He eventually got nine fours in his 120-ball innings, a flick through square-leg and a lofted drive over cover standing out. He picked up four of his boundaries through third man and fine leg, and scored 39 runs behind square on either side of the wicket.
