Tamim, spinners guide Bangladesh to victory
Opener Tamim Iqbal hit 80 runs off 72 balls as Bangladesh cruised to
a four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match
one day series here Saturday.
Zimbabwe's weakness against spin was exposed again as the visitors
were bundled out for 196 in 41.1 overs with left-arm spinner Enamul
Haque picking up three vital wickets when the visitors looked to be
controlling the proceedings.
In reply, Tamim Iqbal played a brilliant half century and Mohammad
Ashraful (63) returned to form to guide the hosts to an easy four
wickets victory in 40.4 overs, albeit after some late hiccups. Tamim,
who was declared man of the match, said he rued missing the century.
"I am not happy. I did not complete the job. But the boys are playing
good cricket. We are hopeful for the remaining matches," he said.
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who hit a blistering century in
the second match to level the series, elected to field and opted for
only one pacer and five spinners in an ideal batting wicket.
Stand-in Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza gave the visitors a
rollicking start, pushing the total to 90 for two wickets, before left
arm spinner Enamul Haque triggered the collapse, picking Charles
Coventry and new man Forster Mutizwa in a single over. Masakadza and
Malcolm Waller tried to repair the damage.
But once the captain was gone after giving an easy catch off left arm
spinner and Thursday's man of the match, Abdur Razzak, at 148 for four,
Zimbabwe innings folded up, adding just 48 runs.
"We had a good start. But we did not have enough run on the board,"
Masakadza said, adding that the team would come back strongly in the
next two matches in the port city of Chittagong.
Bangladesh lost out-of-form Junaid Siddique early but Tamim and
Ashraful batted with poise to put on 98 in the second wicket.
But once Ashraful was bowled out by experienced Raymond Price,
Bangladesh lost a flurry of wickets in moments of unnecessary panic.
Captain Shakib came to bat in the lower order to cool nerves and power
the hosts to an easy victory.
DHAKA, Sunday AFP |
