Zimbabwe Clinch Series As Curran Carries Bat In Record-Equaling Knock

OPENER Ben Curran carried his bat through Zimbabwe’s innings for an unbeaten 111 off 135 balls on Thursday to seal a series-clinching win over Bangladesh and become only the second Zimbabwean to achieve the feat in One-Day International cricket, after Andy Flower’s unbeaten 84 against India at Harare Sports Club in October 1992.

Curran’s innings anchored an unbroken 99-run stand with Brad Evans, who finished not out on 58, his highest ODI score, as Zimbabwe recovered from early wickets to post 246/6 off their 50 overs. Bangladesh were held to 234 all out in reply, handing the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at Harare Sports Club.

“I mean, yeah, that’s a good feeling, I guess,” Curran said after the match.

“But I guess the biggest thing for me today is that we’ve won the series and I’ve, you know, put in a contribution towards that. So, yeah, a great feeling.”

Curran said tricky batting conditions on a winter morning, compounded by the loss of early wickets, shaped his approach to the innings.

“It’s sort of on the winter’s morning. There’s a lot more going on in the wickets,” he said.

“So, with us losing a few early wickets, I had to sort of try and just stabilise the innings. From my side, I wouldn’t say it made it easier, but the job for me was to try and bat through the 50 overs. So, that’s what I tried to do.”

He credited Evans for the late surge that lifted Zimbabwe’s total.

“Brad had also, from my opinion, a much winning contribution towards the end there. So, I guess I’ll give him a lot of the credit,” Curran said.

“You never really know what is a winning score. Especially after our start, probably we would have taken 220-odd, 230, and then we ended up getting that towards the 250 mark, which obviously in the end was a much winning score. I think still below par.”

Curran was also quick to praise Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, singling out the wickets taken by Brian Bennett and Wesley Madhevere

“The bowlers also take a lot of credit. I feel that we caught well as well, an all-around team performance,” he said.

“Ben has taken a massive wicket, as has Wes. I think it’s probably, as a batter, seeing something different, probably I haven’t faced them a lot before. As a batter, it takes that one split second, you turn off and suddenly you’re out. Credit to Richie for turning to them, I guess, and he had a great outing.”

Zimbabwe will look to complete a series whitewash on Saturday, with Curran wary of a Bangladesh side that arrived in the country on the back of beating Australia.

“Bangladesh are a quality side. They’ve just shown that, coming off a win against a good Australian side. And their record even before that was pretty good,” he said.

“For us to get a series win in the first two games is very pleasing. It’s probably just going to be more of the same going into that last game, and hopefully we can take a 3-0.”

Curran also paid tribute to the home support at Harare Sports Club.

“I’ve spent a lot of time down in front of the fans. I was taking it all in, what a pleasure to be playing in front of such a great crowd. And long may it continue.”