Published: Dec 01, 2014, 05:09 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 01, 2014, 07:11 PM (IST)
Dec 1, 2014
Bangladesh completed an easy 5-0 clean sweep over Zimbabwe as they beat them by five wickets in the fifth and final ODI at the Shere-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. Mahmudullah was the highest scorer of the Bangladesh’s innings as he scored an unbeaten 51 to help his team cruise to their 10th ever ODI whitewash.
Earlier Zimbabwe had won the toss and elected to bat first. They made three changes from the previous match as Regis Chakabva, Peter Moor and Nevile Madziva were rested while John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara and Sikandar Raza coming in. Bangladesh on the other hand rested Mominul Haque, Rubel Hossain and Imrum Kayes for this final game.
Zimbabwe started on a shaky note after opener Sikandar Raza was dismissed for just nine off Mashrafe Mortaza. However, it was his fellow opener, Hamilton Maskadza who put up a good stand with Vusi Sibanda. They had a 79-run partnership for the second wicket. Masakadza scored his 25th ODI half-century before falling for 52 off Jubair Hossain.
Soon to follow him was Brendan Taylor for just nine followed by Vusi Sibanda for 37. Follwoing their departure, no batsmen could last long enough and eventually fell like a pile of cards as bowlers Taijul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan and Hossain just tore apart the batting line-up for the visitors.
Taijul Islam took a hat-trick to trouble the tail and it is quite remarkable that it came on ODI debut. No other batsmen apart form Masakadza and Sibanda were able to get to the double figures as they ended up getting bowled out for 128 with Elton Chigumbura being the only batsman to remain not out.
Bangladesh started off their chase in a similar fashion as that of Zimbabwe as they lost opener Tamim Iqbal for cheap after he was dismissed at the score of 18 when he fell to Panyangara for just 10. He was soon followed by his fellow opener, Anamul Haque who went for just eight off Tendai Chatara with just 10 more added to the total.
It was then Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah who added 19 more runs before Soumya departed at the score of 47 off Chatara. However, it came as a shock and concern when their star all-rounder, Shakib-Al-Hasan departed for a golden duck off Panyangara.
However, following Shakib’s dismissal, it was the pair of Rahim and Mahmudullah who made sure that they do not suffer further setbacks and help Bangladesh reach a comfortable position to chase the low total down. They together put up a 35-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Rahim departed off Chatara at the score of 93 after scoring just 11.
It was then the pair of Mahmudullah and SabbirRahman who finished things off for Bangladesh as they won the match by five wickets with 25.3 overs to spare. Mahmudullah also scored his 10th ODI half century in the process.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 128 in 30 overs (H Masakadza 52, V Sibanda 37; T Islam 4 for 11, S Al Hasan 3 for 30) vs Bangladesh 130 for 5 in 24.3 overs (Mahmudullah 51*; T Chatara 3 for 44, T Panyangara 2 for 49) by 5 wickets.
