The Report by Mohammad IsamZimbabwe 253 for 4 (Wiliams 77*, Sibanda 49, Shafiul 2-51) beat Bangladesh 252 for 9 (Razzak 53*, Chigumbura 3-39) by six wicketsSean Williams guided the Zimbabwe chase to a successful finish, after Vusi Sibanda laid the foundation. The home side have levelled the series 1-1, making the third and final match of the series the decider. The six-wicket win also broke a six-match losing streak in ODIs, Zimbabwe having won their last game in October 2011, coincidentally at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Williams struck his eleventh half-century to finish unbeaten on 77 off 74 balls as Zimbabwe overhauled a fairly stiff target of 253. He was not entirely attacking, but did bring out the big shots whenever the opportunity arose or a boundary was required. He struck five fours and a six, slammed over square-leg. The boundaries came through pull shots, a straight drive and even a reverse-sweep slammed through regulation cover.
25 overs Zimbabwe 118 for 3 (Taylor 12*, Williams 11*) need 135 runs to beat Bangladesh 252 for 9 (Razzak 53*, Chigumbura 3-39)
Zimbabwe were 118 for 3 after 25 overs, still needing 136 to level the three-match series. Vusi Sibanda took the hosts to a position of strength but fell one short of a half-century.
Brendan Taylor, on 12 off 28 balls, was batting with Sean Williams, who was unbeaten on 11 off 20. They added 24 for the fourth wicket, a crucial period for Zimbabwe as they looked to consolidate a good start. The pair came to the crease after Sibanda and Sikandar Raza had added 65 for the second wicket, but both fell in the space of five balls.
The pair at the crease struck just one boundary between them, while Sibanda, Raza and Hamilton Masakadza scored 13 in all.
Sibanda hit seven boundaries in his 49 off 51 balls, timing the ball superbly as he dominated the Bangladesh pace bowlers. He was severe on Ziaur Rahman, the visitors’ bowling hero from the first game, taking him for 22 in two overs.
It was Abdur Razzak and Shakib Al Hasan who stifled Sibanda and Raza, cutting out the boundaries. Sibanda was trapped lbw by Shakib in his third over, he was struck in front while trying to sweep. The appeal from Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim was long too, which probably convinced umpire Owen Chirombe.
Masakadza was the first wicket to fall in the Zimbabwe chase, for a run-a-ball 15. He missed a straight delivery from Shafiul Islam, playing all around it as it snuck between bat and pad to hit the offstump. His three boundaries, all beautifully threaded through the offside field, had instilled impetus into their innings.
Sibanda took over from Masakadza, and added 65 for the second wicket with Raza. Raza, however, followed Sibanda back to the dressing room within three balls, chipping an easy catch to midwicket off Shaiful’s slower ball. He made 23 off 35 balls and looked more comfortable against pace than left-arm spin.
50 overs Bangladesh 252 for 9 (Razzak 53*, Chigumbura 3-39) v Zimbabwe
A late hitting spree from an unexpected batsman helped Bangladesh finish on 252 for 9, after they were 185 for 7 in the 44th over. Zimbabwe lost momentum in those last six overs, and they will have to dig deep to level the three-ODI series.
The slog-over charge was led by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who steered Bangladesh past 200 and then, unbelievably, past 250. He slammed five sixes in his maiden ODI fifty, which came off just 21 balls. Razzak added 67 runs after arriving at the crease at the fall of the seventh wicket. His previous highest ODI score was 35, and is generally not known as such a brutal hitter. His second six was mowed over midwicket while his third went over the trees at long-on.
Until Razzak went after them, the Zimbabwe bowlers were more disciplined compared to the first game, when they conceded 18 wides. The return of Kyle Jarvis made the difference, injecting much needed verve into the attack. He was poor towards the end, though, conceding 17 runs in the last over.
Elton Chigumbura took three wickets, while Tendai Chatara picked up two. There was one wicket each for the expensive Shingirai Masakadza, the lucky Prosper Utseya and Jarvis.
Chatara profited from the pressure at the other end, pitching the ball on a good length and tempting the batsmen into playing shots. He removed Tamim Iqbal early, after he had bowled a teasing line to the left-hand batsman until he edged a slightly wider ball soon after a boundary through mid-off. Chatara also took the prized wicket of Nasir Hossain, who made 36 off 53 balls, when he failed in his attempt to guide the ball past the wicketkeeper.
The usually confident Nasir was bogged down after hitting two boundaries in his first 11 balls. Taylor stationed two fielders inside the circle at point and one in the deep, cutting off Nasir’s runs in that region.
Jarvis picked up the wicket of Mohammad Ashraful, whose confidence seems to have slipped off late. He played the cut from the crease, his feet stuck together.
Mushfiqur was adjudged lbw, although replays suggested the Chigumbura delivery was probably slipping down leg side. The Bangladesh captain made 26 off 35 balls, adding 44 for the third wicket with Mominul Haque, who was struggling to time the ball.
Mominul was dropped on 1 and 22, Chatara and Sibanda the guilty parties. He lasted only a little while longer, slogging a catch to mid-on off Chigumbura for 24 off 55 balls.
Shakib and Nasir added 36 for the fifth wicket before Shakib was given out lbw. As soon as the finger went up Shakib reacted almost violently, slamming the bat on his pads and inadvertently hitting Taylor’s pads too. The batsman quickly apologised as he walked off, but it was huge loss for Bangladesh. He was the only batsman who looked comfortable, making 34 off 35 balls with two boundaries and a lot strike rotation.
Mahmudullah and Ziaur Rahman were both caught down the leg side towards the end of the innings, Chigumbura taking his third wicket when Mahmudullah timed the ball right into short fine-leg’s lap after making 31 off 48 balls with just one boundary.
On a good batting surface with the sun out, the target of 253 is within Zimbabwe’s reach in order to keep the series alive.
(Source: Cricinfo)
