Harare: Shoriful Islam’s four wickets, Tansid Hasan and Soumya Sarkar’s fifties helped Bangladesh to a 7-wicket win in the third ODI against Zimbabwe.
Despite half-centuries from Wesley Mathewere and Brad Evans, the tour’s bowling attack restricted the home side to a modest 199 in 49.1 overs as Bangladesh captain Mehdi Hasan Mirza opted to field first.
Chevrons continued to top the score with a brave 75 off 74 balls with 5 fours and a six, Evans scored 50 off 43 balls.
Apart from them, only top-order batsman Innocent Gaya (25) and veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza (11) managed to score double figures against the Bangladesh bowling attack led by Shoribul, who claimed four wickets for 44 runs in his 10 overs.
25-year-old pacer Taskin Ahmed and Tanveer Islam claimed two wickets each, while Mohammad Saifuddin chipped in with a scalp.
In reply, Bangladesh chased down the 200-run target, which they chased down in just three wickets and 84 balls, aided by Danzith and Soumya’s formidable opening partnership.
The opening pair gave the visitors a brilliant start by building a 151-run partnership during which they both brought up their respective half-centuries.
Tanaka Siwanga finally gave Zimbabwe the much-needed breakthrough in the 28th over when he dismissed Soumia for 69 off 82 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Danzid shared a crucial 46-run partnership for the second wicket with Najmul Hossain Sandhu until he fell to Ernest Masuku in the 35th over.
He returned after top-scoring with 94 off 101 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes, which earned him the man of the match award.
Masuku struck again in the same over, dismissing Dawhid Hridoi for a three-ball duck, but Shando eventually led Bangladesh to a consolation victory with an unbeaten 18 off the last delivery of the 36th over.
Masuku took 2 wickets and Siwanga took one wicket for Zimbabwe.