Bangladesh raced to a five wicket defeat of Zimbabwe for a 4-1 series win in the final One Day International at the Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat but hopes of a repeat of their 312 total in the fourth game never materialized with the hosts all out for 209.
That was by no means enough to push Bangladesh, who made 212 for five, to end the series on a triumphant note — Mushfiqur Rahim’s 98 the starring contribution.
PHOTO: AFP
Zimbabwe’s fate had been sealed when they slipped to 69 for six in the 14th over with Bangladesh bowler Dolar Mahmud’s contribution proving incisive, his performance earning him the player of the match award.
Dolar, flown in during the series, dismissed Vusi Sibanda for two, with Charles Coventry, who had scored a record-equaling highest one day score of 194 on Sunday, out for nought.
Dolar’s next victim was Malcolm Waller, who just made it into double figures, with Elton Chigumbura sent back with another big inswinger after Syed Rasel had seen off Sean Williams.
Brendan Taylor did his best to salvage something from a tricky situation and he duly made 61 before he was lbw to Mehrab Hossain Jr.
Bangladesh did not get off to the quickest starts, but marshaled by opener Mushfiqur they dictated this finale. He was stopped from reaching a deserved maiden century by Ray Price.
Tamim Iqbal, with 300-odd runs over the series including a match-winning 150-plus in the fourth ODI, picked up the player of the series award.
“This is my first such award and hopefully there’ll be more to come,” Tamim said. “The 154 was my best innings and hopefully there’ll be many more. The top order played very well this series, and Junaid [Siddique] supported me really well. The boys have performed superbly and we’re very happy.”
Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya paid tribute to the winning tourists: “Yes, we are disappointed, but Bangladesh proved they were the better team.”
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