DHAKA: Bangladesh 297 for 6 (Anamul Haque 95, Shakib Al Hasan 40, Tamim Iqbal 40, Mushfiqur Rahim 33 ,Mahmudullah 33 , T Panyangara 2/54 ) beat Zimbabwe (E Chigumbura 53* , Arafat Sunny 4-27, Rubel Hossain 2/22, Mashrafee 2/24 ) by 124 runs.
Winning the first three matches of the current five matches ODI series Bengal tigers are well on course of achieving yet another series white wash against a miserable looking Zimbabwe. It is not winning only Bangladesh cricket now looks like an inspired well-oiled machine.
Several batsmen are looking great, majestic Mashrafee is leading from the front, other pacers and spinners are stifling the clueless visitors. Unless something goes very wrong Tigers should achieve another ODI series white wash.
The way Mashrafee is marshaling his team evidence that few matters which were shackling the same group of cricketers over the past few months have reversed. Every player now appears to be aware of their roles and responsibilities. Almost everyone is chipping in with useful performances in the total team efforts.
After winning the first two matches comfortably at Chittagong Bangladesh ensured series win at tigers den of Bangladesh home of cricket at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium with a thumping 124-run win over Zimbabwe.
Tourists choosing to field after winning the toss found no change of luck as they had to chase a mammoth target of 298 in an effort to avoid losing the series. Their efforts were put paid by lion hearted Mashrafee with two early strikes with his very accurate bowling.
By the fifth over the openers Masakadza and Sibanda returned to dug out with merely 22 runs on board. From there on a very disciplined tiger squad other Bangladeshi bowlers Sunny, Rubel, Sakib took over. Visitors at no stage looked like challenging the target. Rather survival was their way out. But brilliant controlled left arm spin of impressive Sunny took the wind out of Zimbabwean sail. The visitors succumbed to a huge defeat by 124 runs getting all out for 173 in 39.4-over.
The features of Bangladesh innings was another dynamic opening partnership between back in form terrific Tamim and maturing Anamul. Their flowering partnership of 120 was again cut short by an unfortunate run out. Tamim’s fluent innings of 40 in 63 balls was promising for something higher but not to be. Anamul went on but almost failed to convert his lively innings of 95 to yet another century. After our little master Mominul failing to play a substantial innings Shakib and Mushfique combined with merry making 72 runs partnership in 8-over. Mahamudullah and Shabbbir also made useful contributions .Bangladesh could inflate their innings adding 103 runs in the last 10-over.
Responding to the huge Bangladesh score visitors required a solid partnership but was undone by early strikes of Tiger leader Mashrafee. Vusi Sibanda went early in the third over top edging a miscued pull to deep square leg. Masakadza was adjudged controversially caught behind down the leg side. Tourists could never recover from these early reverse.
The only bad news for Bangladesh in the match was Shafiul Islam leaving the field with a thigh strain. But Rubel quickly removed Maruma playing in the match in place of Sikandar Raza. Sakib, Sunny and Mahamudullah took control after pacers making early strikes.
Skipper Taylor survived three confident leg before shouts and one let off by Mushfique behind the stump. For the first time on this trip Taylor showed some signs of getting back his sweet touch. He played few exquisite strokes before failing to defend against a Sakib armer.
At 5/82 Zimbabwean innings lost its way. Very soft middle order and long tail had no quality to confront very probing spells of impressive Sunny. Only skipper Chigumbura fought the lone battle with an unbeaten 53. But his efforts appeared to be ploughing in the sand. Visitors could reach 173 by the 40th over conceding a huge 124 runs defeat.
The match and the series were wrapped up by Bangladesh with still two matches to be played in dead rubber. Bangladesh must press on for a 5-0 series white wash which will widen their lead on the bottom placed Zimbabwe in ICC ranking.
The return of enigmatic Masharafee as the leader has completely changed the psyche of the team. It has come to our knowledge that change room environment is also changed for the better. Mashrafee is not only doing great himself but he is greatly inspiring each and every member of the team like a battle front commander in a mission.
Bangladesh may try to check how teenage prospect Jubair adjusts in ODI as if selected he can add diversity in Bangladesh attack. On Australia New Zealand strips in ICC world cup he can be a useful option especially against associate members.
BDST: 1905 HRS, NOV 27, 2014
