Shakib’s all-round show in Bangladesh’s easy victory
DHAKA: Opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib Al Has an continued their rich vein of form as Bangladesh maintained their winning streak in the tri-nation ODI tournament on Tuesday, recording a 91-run win against Zimbabwe. Tamim posted his third successive half-century and Shakib made his second in succession to help Bangladesh to 216-9 on at ricky wicket before the latter finished with 3-34 to dismiss Zimbabwe for 125.
Tamim scored 76 off 105 balls, including six fours, while Shakib contributed with an 80 ball-51 alongside his three wickets. Pace bowlers Mustafizur Rahman, Mashrafe Mortaza and left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam picked up two apiece.
Zimbabwe needed to win the match to keep an advantage over the third team in the tournament Sri Lanka but failed to deal with Sh a ki b’ s spin and Ma sh rafe Mortaza’ space in the first power play.
Together they removed the top order, leaving the African team on 34-4 in 9.2 overs before Sikandar Raza and Peter Moor offered some resistance. Pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman kept up the pressure, delivering three straight maiden overs, which worked well for left arm spinner Sunzamul Islam.
Sunzamul dealt a double blow in consecutive deliveries to dis- miss Moor (14) and Malcolm Waller with Zimbabwe at 68-6.
Mustafizur then returned to his second spell to clean up the tail, including the wicket of Zimbabwe’s highest score rSik and ar Raza for 39. Zimbabwe captain Graeme C re mer was instrumental in keeping Bangladesh’ s target small, claiming 4-32.
His googly sparked Bangladesh’s collapse from a position of dominance as it appeared set for a big total, thanks to Tamim.
Cremer outfoxed him with a googlyt ha the failed to read. However when he was 66, he became the first Bangladeshi batsman to score 6000 runs in ODI cricket.
Tamim and Shakib kept the side on track, combining for 106 for the second wicket. Sikandar Raza broke through with the wicket of Shakib as he tried to charge the bowler, only to be stumped by Brendan Taylor. Brief scores: Bangladesh 216 for 9 in 50 overs (Tamim Iqbal 76, Shakib Al Hasan 51; Kyle Jarvis 3/42, Graeme Cremer 4/32) beat Zimbabwe 125 in 36.3 overs (Sikandar Raza 39; Shakib Al Hasan 3/34, Mashrafe Mortaza 2/29, Sunzamul Islam 2/28, Mustafizur Rahman 2/16) by 91 runs.