Liton, Saifuddin star in record Bangladesh win
SYLHET: Liton Das struck his second one-day international century to set up a crushing 169-run win for Bangladesh in the first ODI against Zimbabwe in Sylhet on Sunday.
Liton hit 126 off 105 balls with 13 fours and two sixes as Bangladesh posted 321-6, their highest score against Zimbabwe, before they bowled out the visitors for 152 runs in 39.1 overs for their biggest ever ODI win.
The feat surpasses Bangladesh’s 163-run victory over Sri Lanka in 2018 and is also their 14th consecutive win against familiar foes Zimbabwe, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Mohammad Saifuddin starred for Bangladesh, playing his first match since the World Cup last year, and managed 3-22, while skipper Mashrafe Mortaza and spinner Mehidy Hasan chipped in with 2-35 and 2-33 respectively.
Chasing a mammoth target, Zimbabwe’s innings never got going after Saifuddin took two wickets in his opening spell before Mashrafe took his first wicket in six matches to reduce the side to 23-3. Teenage debutant Wesley Madhevere made 35 runs while Tinotenda Mutombodzi made 24 before he became the last man dismissed.
Mohammad Mithun earlier hit 50 off 41 balls and Saifuddin remained unbeaten on 28 off 16 balls to provide a late impetus in Bangladesh’s innings after Liton’s blazing hundred.
“It’s not been going well the last 3-4 matches for us in this format. We hadn’t been up to the mark in those games, but today we were up for it,” Mashrafe said in the post-match presentation.
“Liton batted so well. And it mattered that others batted around him,” Mashrafe added.
Liton and Tamim Iqbal put on 60 runs in the opening stand before all-rounder Madhevere trapped Tamim in front for 24 for Zimbabwe’s first breakthrough.
Najmul Hossain along with Liton then added 80 runs for the second, but several dismissals slowed their innings as Najmul fell for 29 and Mushfiqur Rahim departed for 19.
BRIEF SCORES: Bangladesh 321/6 in 50 overs (Liton Das 126, Mohammad Mithun 50; Chris Mpofu 2/68) vs Zimbabwe 152 in 39.1 overs (Wesley Madhevere 35, Tinotenda Mutombodzi 24; Mohammad Saifuddin 3/22)
MENDIS, DE SILVA HELP SRI LANKA TO 307
PALLEKELE: Sri Lanka beat West Indies by six runs in the third oneday international in Pallekele on Sunday to sweep the series 3-0.
The hosts restricted the West Indies to 301 for nine while chasing a target of 308 despite a late cameo from number seven Fabian Allen who hit 37 off 15 balls.
Angelo Mathews claimed four wickets to set up the win after a strong batting performance led by Kusal Mendis (55) and Dhananjaya de Silva (51) steered Sri Lanka to 307 all out in 50 overs.
The two teams will now play twot 20g ames on wednesday and Friday in Pallekele.
BRIEF SCORES: Sri Lanka 307 all out in 50 overs (D Karunaratne 44, K Mendis 55, D De Silva 51, A Joseph 4/65) vs West Indies 301/9 in 50 overs (S Hope 72, S Ambris 60, N Pooran 50, A Mathews 4/59)