adminBangladesh at Queens Sports Club here yesterday.
Williams’ half century, which was his career best ODI score, came off 56 balls with three fours and a six as the hosts kept the series alive with 13 balls to spare. Malcom Waller weighed in with an unbeaten 39 runs (off 50 balls with four fours) while Elton Chigumbura proved the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-39 in 10 overs.
Winning the toss and electing to field again, Zimbabwe were confident they would come out with a win, despite having suffered a 121-run defeat in the opening game on Friday, and the decision paid with Zimbabwe taking control of matters.
Batting first, Bangladesh posted 252 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs with Abdur Razzak (53*) top scoring for his side with an unbeaten quick-fire half century that came off 22 balls with four fours and five sixes and becoming Bangladesh’s quickest ODI 50.
Bangladesh’s third wicket partnership (44 runs) of Mushfiqur Rahim (26 off 35 deliveries with three fours) and Monimul Haque (24 off 55 balls with two fours) did not help matters as well as Zimbabwe dominated.
The hosts put up a decent performance with the bat and it was the good act on the crease by Williams who was well supported by Waller for their unbroken 86-run partnership which brought up Zimbabwe’s win.
Zimbabwe made two changes to the side that took part in the first ODI here after Tinashe Panyangara was pulled out for pacer Kyle Jarvis while Regis Chakabva was replaced by Vusimuzi Sibanda at the top of the order.
And it seemed the changes paid as the Bangladesh top batting order crumbled and had lost four wickets after 22 overs with 88 runs on the board following the departure of Tamim Iqbal, Mohhamad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim and Monimul Haque. In response, Zimbabwe had a good day that was built on the Williams-Waller partnership which was characterised by good shot selection and disciplined running between the wickets.
Earlier on, Hamilton Masakadza was the first Zimbabwean batsman to take the long walk back to the pavilion as he was out for 15 runs – that included three fours. Zimbabwe were seemingly in trouble as Masakadza departed the crease with the hosts on 29 for 1.
Masakadza failed to deal with a full length delivery off Shafiul Islam as he tried to hit it to leg but had his off stump broken instead. But his opening partner Vusimuzi Sibanda (49) rose back from a rather poor performance in the tour so far and it was his second wicket partnership with Raza Butt (23) that gave Zimbabwe a better start. However, his second wicket 65 run partnership with Raza Butt was broken with Sibanda just a run shot off his half century after he was trapped lbw by Shakib Al Hasan after facing 51 deliveries that came along with seven fours.
And without adding a run to the total, Zimbabwe lost another wicket to make it 94 for three after Raza Butt (23 off 36 deliveries with three fours) was caught by Shakib Al Hasan off Shafiul Islam with the second ball of the 18th over.
It was a rather soft dismissal for Raza Butt — who followed Sibanda just four balls — having chipped the ball on to midwicket where Shakib Al Hasan had the honour with his safe hands and this also became his highest ODI career high having walked off for three in his debut last Friday .
An over before the batting powerplay, Zimbabwean captain Taylor (37 off 60 with three fours) found himself out caught by Monimul Haque off a Ziaur Rahman delivery in the 35th over having chipped to Ziaur at midwicket but he failed to give height to the ball. In the morning, Zimbabwe got an early breakthrough when opener Tamim Iqubal (six)edged Chatara’s outswinger before he was caught behind by captain and wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor in front of first slip, leaving his side at 10/1 in the third over.
Online Reporter