Bangladesh Vs Zimabawe ODI Played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Chattogram 

Brief Score

Bangladesh 250/3 (Imrul Kayes 90, Liton K Das 83, Mushfiqur Rahim 40*, Mohammad Mithun 23, Sikandar Raza 3/43) beat Zimababwe 246/7 (Brendan Taylor 75, Sikandar Raza 49, SC Williams 47 , Mohammad Saifuddin 3/ 45) by 7 Wickets 

Player of the Match: Mohammad Saifuddin 

Proving it potentials Bangladesh Cricket team cruised on the pathway of achieving another whitewash scoring a thumping 7 wickets victory against Zimbabwe at Zahur Ahmed Chowdury Stadium, Chattogram yesterday. Put into bat by Mashrafe Zimbabwe could post a below par 246/7 in allotted overs. Bangladesh cake walked the target in 45 overs scoring 250/3. Team Tigers is well set now for earning yet another ODI series white wash. 

Mashrafe thought it right letting visitors bat first in anticipation of dew coming in the evening. Visitors looked impressive start even after losing openers early. Veteran Brendan Taylor was on a roll. He had Sean Williams as a steady partner. At 147/2 in 30th over talks were there for a 280 plus score .That could really challenge Bangladesh. But Mashrafe led Bangladesh attack bowled effectively in spells to keep Zimbabwean challenge under control. 

Saifuddin, Mustafiz and Mashrafe decelerated visitors’ progress at critical stages bowling consistently on right channel and taking wickets at regular interval. Nazmul Opu, Miraj and Mahmudullah also spun well restricting visitors to below par score of 246/7. Very accurate bowling and smart fielding kept the visitors bogged down. On an easy pace wicket having no swing, bounce or appreciable turn 247 could not be any challenge for Bangladesh even without Tamim and Shakib.  

Visitors’ innings was decimated from a position of 147/2 by the 30th over. 

Bangladeshi openers aided by butter fingered Zimbabwean fielders ran riot. 148 runs first wicket partnership between Liton and Kayes put paid to visitors’ campaign for staying in the series.  After the dismissal of the openers (both failing to convert innings to triple figures) luckless Fazle Rabbi scored his second successive duck. He possibly failed to grab the opportunity given to him. Several fringe players are waiting in the queue. Shakib and Tamim would be back soon.  Fazle may not get another opportunity as Soumya is waiting in the wings. Bangladesh has to work out right combination targeting ICC world Cup 2018. 

Mushfique and Mithun combined to race across the target by the 45th over. Bangladesh is on the verge of earning yet another series whitewash. These two matches answered few questions. Bangladesh was desperately looking for a settled opening partner for Tamim for a while.  Liton started playing well from Asia cup. Now with two back to back aggressive innings Kayes announced his return to contention loudly. Soumya Sarkar is also ready for return. 

The top order inconsistency appears to have come to an end. Saifuddin batted superbly in the first ODI. Yesterday he was the prime bowler bowling consistently at pace. His three wickets haul signaled appearance of a pace bowling all rounder which Bangladesh sought after all the while. Mashrafee looked a bit out of sorts in his first spell but later returned to his brilliant best. Mustafiz bolwed miserly as ever. Bangladeshi pacers tightened the screws so effectively that visitors could manage only 19 runs in the last 5 overs. This made a difference as Zimbabwe was well set for 270 -280. Instead they could reach only 246/7.

Heavy dew in the evening made the ball greasy creating challenges for Zimabawean bowling. Bangladesh openers starting running riot with aggressive display. The pair put on 148 invaluable opening partnership by the 25th over when Liton got out scoring 83 in 77 balls. He was given out by Rod Tucker on the 4th ball of the first over by Kyle Jarvis. On review the Hawk Eye evidenced that the ball was missing the leg stump. Liton survived. Getting new lease of life Lion unleashed savage counter attack. 

Kayes looked calm and composed. He too got a reprieve when Bredan Taylor failed to hold on a tough chance of the bowling of Sikandar Raza. Kayes was on 58 at that time. However, Raza struck two blows soon removing dangerous looking Liton and sending back Fazle for a second consecutive duck. Fazle is the fourth unfortunate Bangladeshi earning two ducks in the first two innings in ODI. A dreadful feat for a debutant. Fazle was stumped by Taylor of Raza. Bangladesh was in a little jitter.  Zimbabwe looked awful in the field as Imrul was given another life on 70. This time Brendan Mavuta failed to hold on the catch at Midwicket off the bowling of Donald Tripano. Mushfique and Kayes kept the innings going adding 59 for the third wicket before Kayes holed out to long off. It could be his second successive ODI century if Kayes could restrain for a while. Raza took all three wickets of Bangladesh. Mushfique and Mithun took Bangladesh past the target without further drama. Bangladesh won big by 7 wickets. 

It could be so different if any of the set Zimbabwean batsmen could convert start to a three figure and they could post 280 plus. This was not beyond their reach. After the departure of the openers Taylor was striking well. He was impressive against spinners sweeping and reverse sweeping at consummate ease. He reached his half century by the 23rd over his first after the world cup qualifier in March 2018. He put his feet in the pedal after achieving the land mark and was looking set for a century. 

Man with golden arm Mahmudullah in quest of a breakthrough and he delivered. After playing a reverse sweep for four, Taylor got himself trapped plumb in front in efforts for repeating the stroke. He fell at 75. Sean Williams was playing second fiddle with him. But he too fell to carry on 47 bottom edging to the keeper. These two wickets of set batsmen arrested a late order flourish. Bangladesh bowlers swarmed in with a clutch of wickets. The innings got bogged down. 246/7 was not a score to challenge Bangladesh on an easy paced wicked on dew moistened condition.  Poor bowling and fielding of the visitors also did not help their cause.

Bangladesh can afford making few experiments in the last ODI.  With world cup round the corner Bangladesh needs working out the right combination. Absence of Tamim and Shakib offered this opportunity. Inform Soumya can get another opportunity to redeem himself. 

Whether that will be done resting Kayes or Liton is up to the team management. Shanto should be given opportunity at three.  Fit again Rubel should also get a match. It is up to Mashrafe whether he will rest his injured fingers letting Ariful Haque in as well. But in any case Bangladesh must not lose the momentum. Even one loss against Zimabawe will cost Bangladesh dear.

BDST: 0852 HRS, OCT 25, 2018
SI