Tamim helps Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 8 wickets
DHAKA: Opener Tamim Iqbal struck an unbeaten half-century to guide Bangladesh to an eightwicket win over Zimbabwe in the opening match of a tri-nation one-day international tournament. Tamim struck 84 off 93 balls at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium as Bangladesh cruised to 171-2 in just 28.3 overs. The hosts earlier dispatched Zimbabwe for 170 in 49 overs as left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan claimed 3/43.
Sikandar Raza top-scored for the visitors with 52 as well as taking 2/53. Bangladesh never looked in trouble, with Shakib striking twice in the first over after skipper Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and opted to bowl.
Mashrafe and Mustafizur Rahman quickly reduced Zimbabwe to 51/4.Peter Moor supported Raza with 33 before Rubel Hossain (2-24) took two wickets off successive balls, fast-tracking Zimbabwe’s collapse and becoming Bangladesh’s fifth bowler to claim 100 ODI wickets. Tamim lost his opening partner Anamul Haque early on for 19 but added 78 with Shakib (37) for the second wicket to set up the innings for Bangladesh.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 170 all out in 49 overs (S Raza 52, P Moor 33, B Taylor 24, S Al Hasan 3/43, M Rahman 2/29, R Hossain 2/24); Bangladesh 171/2 in 28.3 overs (T Iqbal 84 n.o, S Al Hasan 37 n.o)