A polished 76-run by opener Imrul Kayes guided Bangladesh team to score a fighting total of 241 for 9 in stipulated 50 overs against Zimbabwe in the 2nd match of the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Monday. Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura decided to field first after winning the toss for the second successive match against Bangladesh. He also bowled first after winning the toss in the first ODI and suffered a humiliating 145 runs defeat against the Bengal Tigers. Bangladesh made one change in their previous line-up including opening batsman Imrul Kayes in the squad replacing world famous all rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who went to New York last night for the birth of his first child while Zimbabwe recruited Regis Chakabva in place of injury grabbed wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami. Going to bat first in the day’s 2nd ODI, Bangladesh made a frustrating start losing two early wickets of formidable opening batsman Tamim Iqbal (19) and one down Liton Das (7) for 47 runs for 2 in 10.5 overs. Bangladesh suffered a big blow when their world cup hero Mahmudullah went back to the pavilion scoring an expensive 20-ball four runs, leaving team total 79 for 3 in 17.4 overs. Both Liton Das and Mahmudullah also struggled in the first match. Liton went back to the pavilion with duck playing six balls while Mahmudullah made a 20-ball nine runs in the first ODI on Saturday. After the dismissal top three batsmen in the 2nd ODI, Bangladesh test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim tried his best to repair the early damage contributing 48 runs in the 4th wicket stand with opener Imrul Kayes. Rahim, who guided Bangladesh to a 145-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first ODI scoring 107 runs, scored 28-ball 21 runs hitting three boundaries on Monday before he was brilliantly caught by Jongwe, off a Crèmer delivery with scoreboard showing 127 for 4 in 27.3 overs. Tigers’ misery further consolidated when day’s hero and set batsman Imrul Kayes lost his wicket while he was trying to make consecutive big hit after scoring six in the previous ball. Opener Imrul Keyes hammered an entertaining innings of Bangladesh’s highest 76 runs off 89 balls featuring six fours and four sixes before he was caught by Cremer, off a Williams delivery, leaving Bangladesh at 151 for 5 in 31.3 overs. All rounder Nasir Hossain, who went back to the pavilion with duck in the first ODI, contributed 53-ball 41 runs including three fours, Bangladesh’s consistence performer Sabbir Rahman scored 40-ball 33 runs with a boundary while skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza made 14-ball 13 runs with one four. Tinashe Panyangara grabbed three wickets for 41 runs while Taurai Tuzerabani and leg spinner Graeme Cremer took two wickets each conceding 32 and 41 runs respectively. — UNB, Dhaka.
