Shahriar Nafeez scored his maiden century to earn Bangladesh a consolation win over Zimbabwe in the fifth one-day international on Sunday.
Nafeez faced 148 balls and hit 12 fours in his undefeated 118, the cornerstone of Bangladesh's eight-wicket victory.
Zimbabwe, who won the toss and chose to bat, were dismissed for 197 in 49.3 overs. In reply, Bangladesh cruised to 201 for two in 44.4 overs.
It was all in vain for Bangladesh because Zimbabwe went into the final match of the series with an unbeatable 3-1 lead.
Hamilton Masakadza's 75 steadied Zimbabwe's innings which was rocked by off-spinner Rajin Saleh's career-best return of four for 16 from 4.3 overs.
Saleh's previous best was the three for 48 he took against Pakistan in Faisalabad in September 2003.
Masakadza, who faced 101 balls and hit two fours and two sixes in his measured innings, and Brendan Taylor, who eked out his 24 from 71 deliveries, shared 86 for the third wicket with Masakadza.
That was Zimbabwe's biggest stand, and it preceded a collapse in which they lost eight wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs.
Saleh and Nafeez began Bangladesh's reply solidly with an opening stand of 99 that ended in the 22nd over when Saleh was caught and bowled by Prosper Utseya for 37.
Utseya took his second wicket six overs later when he had Aftab Ahmed stumped by wicketkeeper Taylor for six.
Saqibul Hasan joined Nafeez, and they took Bangladesh home with an unbroken stand of 73 in which Hasan was 30 not out.
Utseya took two for 31 from 10 overs.
Scorecard
Zimbabwe:
T. Duffin lbw b Razzak 40
V. Sibanda c Mashud b Rasel 17
H. Masakadza b Saleh 75
B. Taylor c Mashud b Razzak 24
E. Chigumbura b Hasan 0
S. Matsikenyeri b Saleh 10
T. Mufambisi run out 1
P. Utseya c sub b Saleh 7
B. Mahwire b Saleh 4
A. Ireland run out 3
E. Rainsford not out 1
Extras: (lb-9, nb-3, w-3) 15
Total: (all out, 49.3 overs) 197
Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-79, 3-165, 4-166, 5-172, 6-178, 7-189, 8-189, 9-196, 10-197
Bowling: S. Rasel 10 - 1 - 46 - 1 (nb-2), F. Reza 5 - 0 - 28 - 0 (nb-1), A. Razzak 10 - 2 - 24 - 2 (w-1), M. Rafique 10 - 1 - 35 - 0, S. Hasan 10 - 0 - 39 - 1, R. Saleh 4.3 - 0 - 16 - 4 (w-1).
Bangladesh:
R. Saleh c&b Utseya 37
S. Nafees not out 118
A. Ahmed st Taylor b Utseya 6
S. Hasan not out 30
Extras: (b-2, lb-2, nb-1, w-5) 10
Total: (for 2 wickets, 44.4 overs) 201
Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-128
Did not bat: M. Ashraful, F. Reza, M. Rafique, K. Mashud, M. Rahman, A. Razzak, S. Rasel
Bowling: E. Rainsford 10 - 1 - 40 - 0 (w-1), A. Ireland 8 - 1 - 42 - 0 (w-1), P. Utseya 10 - 1 - 31 - 2, H. Masakadza 10 - 0 - 44 - 0 (w-1), B. Mahwire 4.4 - 0 - 33 - 0 (nb-1 w-2), S. Matsikenyeri 2 - 0 - 7 - 0.
Result: Bangladesh won by 8 wickets
© 2024 Rediff.com -