Summary After being bowled out for 141 in 36.4 overs, Zimbabwe produced a strong bowling performance to dismiss Bangladesh for 116 in 33.1 overs.
HARARE (Web Desk) - Zimbabwe defeated Bangladesh by 25 runs in the first ODI at Harare. After being bowled out for 141 in 36.4 overs, Zimbabwe produced a strong bowling performance to dismiss Bangladesh for 116 in 33.1 overs.
Bangladesh needed 142 runs to win but could not recover from a poor start. They lost three wickets for just 17 runs inside the first five overs, and that early damage proved costly.
Blessing Muzarabani gave Zimbabwe the perfect start. He dismissed Tanzid Hasan for eight and Najmul Hossain Shanto for three. Tanzid hit one four from six balls but could not build on his quick start. Shanto also struggled and fell after facing seven balls without scoring a boundary.
Richard Ngarava removed Soumya Sarkar for six, leaving Bangladesh at 17 for 3 after 4.1 overs. Soumya could not find his rhythm during his 10-ball stay.
Towhid Hridoy and Nurul Hasan then tried to repair the innings. Hridoy scored 25 from 58 balls, hitting one four, but his slow innings meant Bangladesh could not reduce the required runs quickly. He was dismissed by Newman Nyamhuri when Bangladesh were 66 for 4.
Nurul Hasan was Bangladesh’s top scorer with 31 from 44 balls. He struck three fours and one six and looked capable of taking Bangladesh closer to the target. However, Brad Evans trapped him lbw in the 26th over, and Bangladesh lost their most settled batter at 98 for 7.
Mosaddek Hossain made only three before Nyamhuri removed him. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 10 with one four but was dismissed by Ngarava. Rishad Hossain managed three, while Taskin Ahmed scored five. Mustafizur Rahman also made five before becoming Ngarava’s third wicket.
Nahid Rana remained unbeaten on five, but Bangladesh’s innings ended at 116 when Mustafizur was dismissed in the 34th over.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers shared the wickets well. Ngarava finished with 3 for 31 from 7.1 overs, while Brad Evans also took 3 for 34 from 10 overs. Muzarabani was highly economical, claiming 2 for 24 from 10 overs. Nyamhuri took 2 for 22 from six overs and also held two catches.
Nyamhuri was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance. Earlier, he had scored 33 from 51 balls when Zimbabwe were in trouble at 70 for 8. His ninth-wicket partnership with captain Richard Ngarava, who scored 27, lifted Zimbabwe to 141 and gave their bowlers a defendable total.
Nahid Rana led Bangladesh’s bowling with 6 for 21, while Taskin Ahmed took two wickets. Zimbabwe’s batting struggled, but Newman Nyamhuri’s 33 and Richard Ngarava’s 27 proved vital.
Zimbabwe then bowled with discipline to dismiss Bangladesh for 116 and secure a 25-run win. Bangladesh will need a better top-order effort in the next ODI.
