Zimbabwe open Tri-Series with 99-run win over Bangladesh
Ervine and Taylor share 150-run stand before Evans’ four wickets seal opener in Abu Dhabi
ZIMBABWE made a winning start to the UAE
ODI Tri-Series with a 99-run victory over Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, built on a 150-run fourth-wicket partnership between Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor and a team bowling effort led by Brad Evans’ four wickets for 45 runs.
Zimbabwe won the toss, chose to bat and made 271/8. Bangladesh were bowled out for 172 in 33.4 overs.
Zimbabwe’s start was shaky. Taskin Ahmed took the first three wickets, Brian Bennett (0, lbw), Ben Curran (6, lbw) and Tafadzwa Tsiga (16, caught behind) and Zimbabwe were 24/3 in 6.6 overs. Ervine and Taylor then rebuilt the innings. Taylor made 81 off 101 balls with 10 fours before Mosaddek Hossain caught him off Saif Hassan at 174/4. Ervine fell seven runs short of a century, making 93 off 106 balls with nine fours before Nurul Hasan caught him off Shoriful Islam at 224/7.
Zimbabwe added 38 runs in the last five overs. Newman Nyamhuri (21 not out off 17 balls) and Wellington Masakadza (21 not out off 15, with two sixes) finished unbeaten. Wessly Madhevere made 17 off 15 balls and captain Sikandar Raza made four. Taskin ended with three wickets for 44 runs from his 10 overs, Shoriful Islam took two for 47 and Saif Hassan two for 17.
Bangladesh made a solid start to their chase of 272. Tanzid Hasan made 46 off 38 balls, with nine fours and a six and the opening stand reached 47 before Blessing Muzarabani had Soumya Sarkar (9) caught by Bennett. The turning point came after Bangladesh were 97/4 after 16.3 overs, when Raza had captain Towhid Hridoy (13) lbw. Bangladesh then lost their last six wickets for 75 runs.
Evans was the most successful bowler. He dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw (4) and had Nurul Hasan (5) caught at 129/7, Shoriful Islam (0) caught by Bennett at 129/8 and Mustafizur Rahman (6) caught and bowled to end the innings. Masakadza took two for 18 from six overs, Raza two for 28 from seven, and Muzarabani one for 23 from eight overs. Raza took his 100th ODI wicket when Rishad Hossain (23) was caught by Masakadza at 161/9. Taskin finished unbeaten on 16 off 13 balls.
However, there are areas for Zimbabwe to work on. Three wickets fell inside seven overs, Nyamhuri conceded 56 runs from six overs, and Zimbabwe bowled 10 wides and a no-ball. Substitute fielders also took two of the catches, Ryan Burl dismissing Tanzid and Tadiwanashe Marumani dismissing Nurul. For Bangladesh, the top order got them close to a platform, but the middle order could not repeat the opening stand.
The win gives Zimbabwe an early lead in the competition.
