Consolation win for Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Bangladesh cruised to a six-wicket consolation victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international in Bulawayo on Friday, giving them their first win of the tour.

Bangladesh cruised to a six-wicket consolation victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international in Bulawayo on Friday, giving them their first win of the tour.

Shakib Al Hasan's side had gone down in their previous five matches – a three-day warm-up, a Test and three ODIs – but took advantage of a changed Zimbabwe unit to win the first of two dead rubbers in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor's century was the only bright spot for the hosts, who were bowled out for a lowly 199 before Bangladesh chased down their target in just 36.4 overs.

Former skipper Elton Chigumbura was the only batsman to offer some support, putting on 94 from 131 balls for the fifth wicket with Taylor before an almighty collapse saw them lose their last six wickets for just 16 runs.

Bangladesh's bowlers improved on their performances in the three previous clashes, which were all won by Zimbabwe, but the hosts were also guilty of fluffing the batting powerplay.

The tourists had won the toss and opted to bowl first, with a bright start by Zimbabwe quickly pegged back as they tumbled to 89 for four.

Taylor batted solidly the whole way through though, and was able to revive the innings as Chigumbura played the unusually patient knock which the situation demanded.

The duo took Zimbabwe to 180 for four after 43 overs, with Taylor going to his century in 131 deliveries, before looking to launch a final assault with the batting powerplay, but both fell in the next over as Chigumbura went for 31 and Taylor was caught at mid-on for 106.

Malcolm Waller had been given a chance to impress and played a brief but entertaining innings of 12, including a four and a six, but was out in the next over when a Rubel Hossain bouncer took him by surprise and forced him to hit his stumps at the end of a pull shot.

The wickets never stopped tumbling thereafter, with Rubel finishing with 4 for 31 from nine overs, which earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Despite needing just four runs per over, Bangladesh set out to chase down their target in minimal time as openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes racked up the boundaries, with Imrul hitting two sixes and three fours in the 20 balls he faced.

Left-arm seamer Brian Vitori was rested by the hosts, which gave Bangladesh's batsmen some relief, but Imrul's aggression caught up with him when he chased one delivery too many and was caught at cover off the bowling of Chris Mpofu for 28.

Prosper Utseya managed to rein in the Bangladeshis after the opening bowlers had taken a heap of flak, and nabbed the wicket of Junaid Siddique when the left-hander tried to clear mid-on but skied it, allowing Kyle Jarvis to run back and take an excellent catch.

Tamim Iqbal (61 from 53 balls) had been going like a steam train all along and put on 50 with Mushfiqur Rahim at better than a run a ball, but when the duo perished within seven runs of each other a hint of doubt crept into the match.

However Bangladesh were not to be denied this time, as Shakib hit an unbeaten 39 and Shuvagoto Hom stood firm for 35 not out to take the series scoreline to 3-1 in favour of Zimbabwe.

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