Bangladesh win One-Day Series against Zimbabwe

Bangladesh win One-Day Series against Zimbabwe: 2-1

Shakib seals one-day cricket series win for Bangladesh: 23-January-2009

— Shakib Al Hasan grabbed 3-15 before hitting an unbeaten 33 to guide Bangladesh to a series-clinching six-wicket win in the third one-day international against Zimbabwe here on Friday. The 21-year-old left-hander justified his recent status as the top one-day all rounder as Bangladesh surpassed Zimbabwe's 119-9 with 27 balls to spare in a match reduced to 37 overs per side due to fog.

The chase did not appear easy at one time with the hosts wobbling at 89-4, but Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim (20 not out) kept their nerve to help their side clinch the three-match series 2-1.Shakib hit four fours, all against spinner Prosper Utseya, in his 36-ball knock while Rahim brought off the winning runs with a boundary off paceman Edward Rainsford.

Veteran Raymond Price was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers, returning 2-9 off seven measly overs.Earlier, the pace-spin combination of Mashrafe Mortaza (3-26) and Shakib did the trick for Bangladesh with the duo accounting for six Zimbabwe wickets after skipper Mohammad Ashraful put the visitors in to bat.

Mortaza started the slide when he trapped opener Vusimuzi Sibanda leg-before in the very first over before returning to dismiss the next two batsmen in an inspired opening spell.Left-arm spinner Shakib rattled the visitors further by getting rid of Elton Chigumbura, Raymond Price and Rainsford in quick succession.

Off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah chipped in with two wickets and Rubel Hossain with one to underline yet another disciplined performance by the home team bowlers.Sean Williams, who top-scored with 59 in the previous game which the visitors lost by six wickets, offered some resistance in making 38 off 46 balls with five fours, but that was about all. Source-AFP

Bangladesh level series:- 21-January-2009

Bangladesh levelled the three-match one-day international series against Zimbabwe with a six-wicket triumph in Mirpur.





A fine 96-run partnership between Sean Williams and captain Prosper Utseya helped the tourists recover from a poor start to reach 160 for nine from their 50 overs after being asked to bat first.





But the hosts, with Raqibul Hasan (52 not out) and opener Mehrab Hossain Jr (43) leading the way, surpassed their victory target for the loss of just four wickets and with more than five overs to spare.



Zimbabwe lost their first wicket in the ninth over when Nazmul Hossain had Hamilton Masakadza (17) caught at mid-off by Rubel Hossain.



That was a sign of things to come as wickets then began tumbling at a rapid pace. Vusi Sibanda fell for seven in the 11th over before Tatenda Taibu (three) quickly followed suit and then Zimbabwe lost Stuart Matsikenyeri (10), Elton Chigumbura (one) and Malcolm Waller (one) in the space of three overs to leave the tourists floundering on 47 for six in the 19th over.



Williams hit three fours and a six as he combined well with Utseya to repair Zimbabwe's innings before he was dismissed - run out by Mashrafe Mortaza - for 59 in the 47th over.



Utseya reached a career-best 38 before perishing in the final over, with Ray Price (seven) then bowled by Mortaza with the last ball of the innings.



Chasing just 161, Bangladesh knew they did not have to produce anything too spectacular to level the series.



Opener Tamim Iqbal was bowled between bat and pad by Tawanda Mupariwa for 21 and Mohammad Ashraful contributed only five before Ed Rainsford had him caught at short cover by Utseya, but Mehrab and Raqibul shared a 52-run stand for the third wicket to get the home side back on track.



Shakib Al Hasan (22) came in and picked up where Mehrab left off as Bangladesh inched further towards their target, with Mushfiqur Rahim (13 not out) finishing things off in style with a six over long leg off Mupariwa.



Source: The Press Association