Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza won the toss and decided to
bat first. The home team could make a competitive score of 271 runs for the
loss of 8 wickets, thanks to Imrul Kayes’ third ODI century and Mohammad
Saifuddin’s maiden ODI half-century.
Imrul Kayes, the 31-year-old veteran left-handed opener, played his
career best innings in this match. He scored 144 runs off 140 balls with 13
fours and 6 sixes, the second-highest ODI score by any Bangladeshi batsman shared
with Mushfiqur Rahim who also scored the same runs against Sri Lanka in the
recently concluded Asia Cup. However, the record of Bangladesh’s highest
individual score in ODI is still held by Tamim Iqbal who scored 154 runs
against Zimbabwe on August 16, 2009.
Imrul Kayes on his way to scoring century got huge support from Mohammad
Saifuddin who scored 50 runs from 69 balls. The duo also shared a 127-run
seventh-wicket partnership, which helped the home team coming out of danger
after tottering at 137 runs losing 6 wickets. Mohammad Mithun also played a useful
innings of 40-ball 37, including one four and three sixes. He also made a
71-run partnership with Kayes in the fourth wicket stand.
For Zimbabwe, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara and Brandon Mavuta took 4, 3
and 1 wicket respectively.
Coming to chase Bangladesh’s target, Zimbabwe could manage to score 243
runs losing 9 wickets in their stipulated overs. Sean Williams remained not out
on 50 runs playing 58 deliveries in which he hit five fours and one six. Kyle
Jarvis’ all-round performance helped his team to avoid a big margin defeat.
With bat, he played a crucial innings of 33-ball 37. He and Williams made a 67-run
partnership for the eight-wicket stand. This pair was also showing their team hope
of winning the 1st ODI match. However, due to Bangladeshi bowlers’ controlled bowling,
their effort did not come true.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the highest wicket taker. The off-spinner took
three wickets while Nazmul Islam picked up two wickets. Other two wickets were shared
between Mustafizur Rahman and Mahmudullah.
Selectors of the Bangladesh cricket made two changes in the squad that
lost to India in the Asia Cup final last month. They picked up the uncapped
Fazle Mahmud Rabbi to replace Shakib Al Hasan, who has been nurturing his
finger injury. Another change is the recall of pace-bowling all-rounder
Mohammad Saifuddin in place of fast bowler Ruble Hossain, who is recovering
from fever.
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