Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S hopes of completing a rare One Day International series sweep over Bangladesh ended in disappointment after the visitors cruised to a seven-wicket victory at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Having already secured the series, the Chevrons rested skipper Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Newman Nyamhuri.
The decision left Zimbabwe without the bowling attack that had driven the series win, with the trio accounting for 29 of the hosts’ 38 wickets coming into yesterday’s contest.
Zimbabwe’s batting struggles also resurfaced after the hosts were put in to bat following another toss defeat and were dismissed for 199.
Half-centuries from Wessly Madhevere and Brad Evans rescued the innings after another shaky top-order display.
Bangladesh made light work of the chase. Openers Tanzid Hasan and Soumya Sarkar shared a commanding 151-run stand from 167 deliveries to lay the foundation for victory as the tourists reached their target with more than 11 overs to spare.
Harare Sports Club was packed with supporters hoping to witness Zimbabwe complete a clean sweep.
Those hopes were dented before a ball had been bowled when the changes to the bowling attack were confirmed.
Wellington Masakadza, Ernest Masuku and Tanaka Chivanga were handed their first starts of the ODI series.
Zimbabwe missed the control and penetration provided by Ngarava, Muzarabani and Nyamhuri.
They struggled to build sustained pressure, while six dropped catches summed up an untidy afternoon in the field. The match began much like the previous two, with stand-in captain Sikandar Raza losing the toss before Zimbabwe were asked to bat.
The usually reliable opening pair of Brian Bennett and Ben Curran failed to provide a platform, adding just 12 before Curran was bowled by Shoriful Islam for 2 from 13 deliveries.
Bennett followed soon afterwards, edging Taskin Ahmed behind for 6 off 19 balls, before Craig Ervine’s difficult run in ODIs continued when he was caught behind for 5.
Seven Zimbabwe batters failed to reach double figures.
Clive Madande made 1, Wellington Masakadza scored 7, Ernest Masuku added 2 and Tanaka Chivanga finished unbeaten on 2. Madhevere top-scored with 75 from 74 balls, while Evans struck 50 from just 43 deliveries.
Innocent Kaia contributed 25 from 67 balls. Madhevere and Kaia shared 51 for the fourth wicket before Madhevere and Evans added another important 43 for the seventh.
Shoriful Islam finished with 4 for 44, while Taskin Ahmed and Tanvir Islam claimed two wickets each.
Zimbabwe struggled to make early breakthroughs as Bangladesh began their chase.
Hasan and Sarkar dominated the opening partnership, putting on 151 before Chivanga bowled Sarkar for 69 from 82 balls.
Masuku then removed Hasan for 94, caught by Brad Evans at long-on, before also dismissing Towhid Hridoy for a duck, caught by Ervine at first slip.
Hasan’s 94 laid the platform before Sarkar and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto guided the visitors home unbeaten on 69 and 18 respectively.
Masuku finished with 2 for 33, while Chivanga returned figures of 1 for 34.
Despite the defeat, Zimbabwe captain, Richard Ngarava, chose to focus on the bigger picture after the Chevrons secured a 2-1 series victory.
“Yeah, it was quite important to start with a series win,” said Ngarava. “The group is quite happy about it.
“It’s quite special to see new names performing and nice to have youngsters in there. Hopefully, it’s going to continue for a long time.
“We haven’t really managed to achieve all of the goals, but in every game we were able to cover two departments, which is a plus. It’s really nice to be coming out of this series the way we are.”
Bangladesh’s victory denied Zimbabwe a first ODI series sweep over the tourists, but the Chevrons still emerged with a deserved 2-1 series triumph.
