Sabbir Hossain :Bangladesh whitewashed Zimbabwe 3-0 registering a comfortable 61-run victory over their African counterpart in the third ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.Earlier, Bangladesh composed a thumping 145-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first ODI at the same venue on November 7.Then the home side posted an easy 58-run victory over the tourists in the second ODI at the same venue on November 9.Electing to bat first, Bangladesh piled up a satisfactory 276 for the loss of nine wickets and then they bowled out Zimbabwe for 215 off 43.3 overs.’Wonder Boy’ Mustafizur Rahman played the key role in wrecking Zimbabwe innings as he completed his terrific innings as 8-0-35-5.Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny took one wicket each for 12, 36, 40, 44 and 47 runs respectively. Bangladesh made a formidable start with Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal , the two openers of Bangladesh contributing 147 runs in the opening stand before Imrul Kayes was stumped out by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva off Sikandar Raza.Dashing opener Tamim Iqbal was also stumped out by Regis Chakabva off Graeme Cremer when Bangladesh’s score was 173 for the loss of two wickets.Imrul Kayes notched up a marvelous 73. His 95-ball innings was decorated with four sixes and six fours. It was Imrul’s 12th ODI half century.Tamim Iqbal also made a superb 73. His 98-ball knock had seven fours and a sixer. It was Tamim Iqbal’s 32nd ODI half century. Tamim Iqbal was adjudged the Man of the Match while Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged the Player of the Series.Mahmudullah Riyad also shone with the willow. He scored 52 from 40 balls including five fours and a sixer. It was Riyad’s 14th ODI fifty. When Riyad was unfortunately run out by Regis Chakabva, the team’s total was 275 for the loss of eight wickets. Luke Jongwe and Graeme Cremer got two wickets each conceding 50 and 53 runs respectively.Later, new sensation Mustafizur Rahman gave his team early breakthrough removing opener Chamu Chibabva (4) when the tourists’ total was 4.Mustafizur Rahman struck again when Regis Chakabva (17) was caught at the cover by Nasir Hossain off the pacer when Zimbabwe’s score was 43 for the loss of two wickets.After removal off Chakabva, Craig Ervine was trapped leg before wicket by Nasir Hossain when the visitors’ total was 47 for the loss of three wickets.Then Elton Chigumbura and Sean Williams built a notable partnership adding together 80 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Elton Chigumbura was cleanly bowled out by Sabbir Rahman when the African’s score was 127 for the loss of four wickets.After dismissal of Chigumbura, Sean Williams and Malcolm Waller put on together 59 runs in the fifth wicket partnership before Waller (32) was caught at the cover by Nasir Hossain off Al-Amin Hossain when the tourists’ total was 186 for the loss of five wickets.After departure of Waller, Sean Williams stayed at the crease for a short period as he was caught at the short cover by Sabbir Rahman off Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when Zimbabwe’s score was 188 for the loss of six wickets. Sean Williams made 64 from 84 balls including five fours while in-form Chigumbura hit a captain’s knock of 45 from 47 balls with five fours.After the departure of Williams; Mustafizur Rahman struck again as Sikandar Raza (9) was caught at the mid-wicket by Sabbir Rahman off Mustafizur’s when the tourists’ total 207 for the loss of seven wickets.Mustafizur kept his domination when Luke Jongwe (11) was caught by Sabbir Rahman off the left-arm pacer when Zimbabwe’s score was 208 for the loss of eight wickets.Ace fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman struck again as Tinashe Panyangara (3) was caught & bowled by Mustafizur Rahman when the visitors’ total was 214 for the loss of nine wickets.Then Arafat Sunny finished the African’s innings as Taurai Muzarabani was caught and bowled by Sunny.
