Bangladesh Vs Zimbabwe Third ODI Played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka on 11 November 2015

Bangladesh 276/9 (Tamim Iqbal 73, Imrul Kayes 73, Mahmudullah Riyad 52, Mushfiqur Rahim 28, LM Jonwe 2/50, AJ Cremer 2/53) beat Zimbabwe 215 All Out (SC Willams 64, E Chigumbura 45, Mustafizur Rahman 5/34) by 61 Runs.

Player of the Match: Tamim Iqbal
Man of the Series: Mustafizur Rahman

Boy Wonder Majestic Mustafizur Rahman derailing the Zimbabwean chase led Bangladesh earn yet another ODI whitewash. His 5/34 made tigers achieve another 3-0 series clean sweep. Mashrafe-led Bangladesh cricket team won the fifth ODI series win in a trot in exactly 12 months.

It all started with comprehensive series win against the same opposition last November and then Pakistan, India and South Africa also were beaten. This series win, however, added only one point to ICC ranking of 94 closing the gap with 6th ranked England at 100. If Pakistan can whitewash the Pommies in UAE opportunities may arise for Bangladesh to even elevate the ranking. Yesterday, batting first at Sher-e-Bangla National stadium, Bangladesh huffed and puffed in reaching 276/9 overcoming a middle order collapse. Then Mustafiz destroyed the visitors’ innings with brilliant swing and deceptive pace. His 5/34 earned 61 runs win. In his 10 ODI so far this teenager had his record third 5 wickets haul.

The match witnessed an unnecessary controversy over a run out of Mahmudullah. He started walking towards the pavilion before the umpires’ decision when attempting for a run he saw a direct throw apparently knocked his stumps before he could recover his ground. But replay showed that wicket keeper Chakava knocked the bails before the ball arrived. Zimbabweans either got a tip from TV replay or from the dugout. The keeper uprooted the stumps before Mahmudullah returned and claimed the out. Third umpire ruled him not out. The question that was debated whether the ball became dead after the first run out attempt clearly was a mistake. Perhaps the visitors were hard done.

Mashrafe had no hesitation in opting to bat after winning the toss. He retained faith on his winning squad though many suggested giving Anamul, Jubair and Rabbi a match after series being won. Tried and tested opening pair Tamim and Kayes gave a fluent start. Excepting Zimbabwean fielders dropping a few chances the pair dominated the attack playing many aggressive stokes in their 147 runs opening partnership.

When they were handling Zim attack brutally there were talks about 300 plus score though in some spells scoring was restricted a bit. Yet 147 before 30th over gave a solid foundation. Mushfiqur was rightly sent at three to bury the visitors after Kayes fell trying another adventurous stroke after his second consecutive fifty (73). But Tamim (73) and Mushfique (28) followed him in the same fashion soon converting a brilliant start to a state of uncertainty. All three danced down the wicket attempting aggressive strokes and were stumped. Liton failed once again, Sabbir and Nasir failed to deliver. A very promising start lost the way.

Suddenly Bangladesh found them in a tight corner at 226/6 in the 44th over. Things could be different if Mahmudullah was given out. But he survived. Mashrafe and Mahmudullah had a late surge to take Bangladesh to 276/9 a score that proved too much for a clueless Zimbabwean batting failing in decoding Mustafiz mystery.

Mustafiz swung, seamed and varied his pace like a champion. His very second ball which disturbed the furniture of Chibhabha would have made great Wasim Akram proud. That ball moved in pitching on a length. Such tricks possibly great Wasim learned much later in his career. Zimbabweans were so much confused with his bowling that they opted to blast out the other bowlers as a means to overcome Mustafiz influence. But in three spells he completely broke the back bone of the visitors. There were regular play and miss, edges dropping short of fielders, ball whistling past the stumps. When he was bowling at Zimbabwe 9/214 Mashrafe had eight slips for his teenage champion bowler.

Mustafiz took 5 wickets. With a little bit of luck it could be 6, 7 or 8 if edges gone on to hands. But instead other five bowlers got one each making it a great team effort. Zimbabwe could have ended this ODI series without a single fifty from their batsmen had Arafat Sunny not trodden on the stumps in the 30th over when Williams - batting on 49 - was short of the crease. Mashrafe finally accounted for Williams failing to an easy catch at cover after he failed to time a drive. He made 64 off 84 balls with five fours.

Once he fell at 188 Mustafiz came back to remove Sikandar Raza, caught splendidly by Sabbir as he ran from mid-on to mid-off.  He was on a hat trick when Luke Jongwe holed out at midwicket. However, the hat-trick ball was somehow kept away by Graeme Cremer. Later, Mustafiz took a return catch to dismiss Tinashe Panyangara and complete a third five-wicket haul in ODIs. Bangladesh won the match by a significant margin of 61 runs. Series white wash was achieved.

Number seven ICC ranked team playing against number ten got only 1-point in the process. This result was not unexpected. Zimbabwe came to Bangladesh losing ODI and T20 series to ICC associate emerging Afghanistan. Any other result would have been considered an upset. Although the margin of defeat would suggest one sided affairs but the matches were not won without contest. In each match the visitors bowled and fielded admirably well. Bangladesh batting was not very consistent. If Zimbabwe could master Mustafiz (Second and third ODI) and Shakib (first match) matters could be a bit different. Bangladesh middle order batting has some issues. Against major opposition this batting would not be enough for match winning.

In retrospect, one may agree that without Soumya, Shakib, Rubel and Taskin Bangladesh earning another series whitewash is an achievement. Mashrafe led his charges characteristically well. But there are areas for improvement. Barring has to be much more consistent. Rotating the strikes still remains an issue. Batsmen must not try blasting out every delivery. Playing with soft hands in the gap, building innings with ones and twos are right strategy against tight bowling.

It is satisfying that Bangladesh now has a very strong all round bowling attack. Mustafiz is truly world class. He must be preserved with care. The return of Al-Amin in his brilliant best is a healthy sign. With Rubel, Taskin and Shafiul recovering from injury Bangladesh now possess depth and diversity in pace attack. Selectors could have given Jubair and Anamul a match to boost their confidence.

Winning five ODI series on a trot and reaching second spot as the successful ODI team in 2015 had added a new feather to Bangladesh cap.  Zimbabwe can also look back with a little pride in their series white wash. They had their moments in the series. The bowling looked promising. They were in the match in all three ODIs. Their batsmen failed to bat consistently.

The visitors were unconcerned about security threats which led to Australia postponing and cancelling their scheduled tour. They are real friends of Bangladesh cricket. Cricket world witnessed that playing cricket in Bangladesh is among the safest in the world.

The white wash may have given marginal benefit to Bangladesh in ICC ranking but any other result could harm more. Last night, Pakistan won its first ODI against England easily. If England gets whitewash Bangladesh may close in with England at 6th position.
BDST: 0916 HRS, NOV 12, 2015
SR

** Bangladesh whitewash Zimbabwe