Bangladesh opener Liton Das posted a stunning 102-run win over Zimbabwe in the first match of three One Day Internationals at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
The tourists scored 276-9 in 50 overs before left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan scored 5-30, leaving Zimbabwe for 121, while Timisen Maruma was unable to bat.
Shakib’s third five-wicket haul in ODIs also gave him the record for most dismissals by a Bangladesh bowler in ODI cricket, surpassing former captain Mashrafe Mortaza’s tally of 269 wickets.
Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal said, ‘I thought we bowled well.
“I wasn’t thinking too much about the surface. We bowled according to a plan. If you don’t bowl according to your plan, the wicket won’t help you.”
Das was selected for the game only after leaving the tour due to a family affair with regular wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, when Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor won the toss and elected to bat.
Three of his four centuries have come against the South African nation, and the latest came off 114 balls and included eight boundaries.
“Initially the pitch helped the bowlers but I managed well in the first 15-20 overs,” Das said after receiving the player of the match award.
“After that, the wicket was good to bat on. Mahmudullah gave me good support and he was really helpful.”
– Shakib Records –
Bangladesh lost Tamim, after recovering from a knee injury, called back without a run on the board in the third over and made 74-4 before Das and Mahmudullah turned the tide.
They added 93 runs for the fifth wicket before Mahmudullah was dismissed for 33 by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabwa off Luke Jongwe.
Das posted his century before being caught at square leg by Wellington Masakadza off Richard Ngarwa.
Batting at number six, Afif hit 45 off 35 balls and hit two sixes before right-arm medium pacer Jongwe, Zimbabwe’s most successful bowler, was clean bowled for 3-51 runs.
Tamim said, ‘I thought Zimbabwe bowled brilliantly in the first 15 overs.
“But the way Liton and Mahmudullah (Riyadh) batted, and then Afif, was really good.”
In reply, Zimbabwe went down 13-2 in the first five overs losing openers Wesley Madhevere (9) and Tadiwanase Marumani (0).
It is expected that Taylor can celebrate his 200th ODI appearance with a big innings and only 24 runs before Shakib was caught by Taskin Ahmed at short fine leg to give Shakib the necessary wicket to claim the national record. Make it
It was left to Chakabwa for the top score with 54. He hit four fours and two sixes before falling on the catch of Mehdi Hasan Miraj.
The matches are part of the World Cup Super League, a feeder tournament that determines which seven teams, along with hosts India, earn direct qualification for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
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