Harare: Ben Curran’s brilliant century led Zimbabwe to a 13-run win over Bangladesh in a combined bowling effort.
The win gave Zimbabwe a 2-0 lead in the three-match series as they clinched the opening match by 25 runs at the same ground that will also host the remaining ODIs on Saturday.
Batting first, the home team posted 247/6 in 50 overs on the back of an unbeaten century from left-arm opener Ben Curran.
Curran oversaw Zimbabwe’s entire innings as he carried his bat throughout and scored an unbeaten 111 off 135 balls with 9 fours, earning him the man of the match award.
He shared a crucial fifth-wicket partnership of 68 with veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza (33) and followed that up with an unbeaten 99 for the seventh wicket with Brad Evans, who contributed an unbeaten half-century with 2 sixes and 7 fours, 58 off 39 balls.
Chasing a target of 248, Bangladesh were bowled out for 234 in 48.1 overs, despite half-centuries from Tanzid Hasan and Dawhid Hiridoi.
Bangladesh started the chase with the loss of two wickets within 38 runs.
Brian Bennett finally broke the menacing partnership in the 27th over by dismissing Hasan for 57 off 70 balls with the help of 5 fours and a six.
Hridoi shared a crucial 49-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Nurul Hasan until he was eventually bowled by Wesley Mathewere in the 37th over. He departed again after top-scoring for Bangladesh with 60 off 90 balls with 5 fours.
Bangladesh lost another wicket in the next over as Musadeq Hossain (seven) was sent back by Richard Nagarawa, slumping to 176/5.
Following successive dismissals, skipper Mehdi Hasan Miraz (27) joined Nurul Hasan (38) as the duo put on a 31-run partnership for the sixth wicket to guide Bangladesh to chase down the 248-run target.
But Nurul Hasan’s dismissal in the 42nd over sparked a lower-order collapse as Bangladesh lost the remaining four wickets, including skipper Miraz, for just 27 off 42 balls to collapse for 234.
Nagarava was the standout bowler for Chevrons, taking three wickets for 55 runs in his 9.1 overs, followed by Blessing Musharbani and Evans with two wickets each and Raza, Bennett and Mathewere claiming a scalp each.