Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh registered a massive 169-run victory over Zimbabwe in their first One Day International (ODI) match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Electing to bat first, Bangladesh piled up a mammoth total of 321 for the loss of six wickets in 50 overs and then bundled out Zimbabwe for 152 off 39.1 overs. Liton Das powered the Tigers to score such a huge total.
Liton Das notched up a terrific 126. His 105-run innings saw 13 fours and two sixes.
It was Liton’s second ODI century.
Bangladesh made an auspicious start as openers Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal put on together 60 runs in the opening stand before Tamim (24) was trapped leg before wicket by Wesley Madhevere.
After Tamim’s dismissal, Liton Das and Najmul Hossain Shanto mended the innings contributing together 80 runs for the second wicket partnership before Shanto (29) was trapped leg before wicket by Tinotenda Mutombodzi when Bangladesh’s total was 140 for the loss of two wickets.
After Shanto’s departure, Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim added together 42 runs in the third wicket stand before Mushfiqur (19) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Richard Mutumbami off Donald Tripano when Bangladesh’s score was 182 for the loss of three wickets.
Then Liton Das was retired hurt when the hosts’ total was 206 for the loss of three wickets.
Third-down Mahmudullah Riyad and fourth-down Mohammad Mithun contributed together 68 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Riyad was trapped leg before wicket by Chris Mpofu when the home side’s score was 274 for the loss of four wickets.
Riyad made 32 from 28 balls featuring two fours and a sixer.
After Mahmudullah’s dismissal, Mohammad Mithun was trapped leg before wicket by Mpofu when Bangladesh’s total was 289 for the loss of five wickets.
Mithun hit an exact 50. His 41-ball innings had five fours and a sixer. It was Mithun’s fifth ODI half-century.
Number-8 batsman Mehidy Hasan Miraz (7) was caught at the mid-wicket by Tinashe Kamunhukamwe off Carl Mumba when the team’s total was 298 for the loss of six wickets.
Mohammad Saifuddin remained unbeaten with 28.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza remained unbeaten with naught.
Mpofu got two wickets conceding 68 runs, while Mumba, Mutombodzi, Madhevere and Tripano took one wicket each for 45, 47, 48 and 56 runs respectively.
Later, Zimbabwe batsmen failed to resist the tight and controlled bowling attack of Bangladesh bowlers.
Promising pacer Mohammad Saifuddin, experienced pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam played the role in demolishing Zimbabwe innings for a paltry total.
Saifuddin grabbed three wickets at the cost of 22 runs, while Miraz and Mashrafe bagged two wickets each instead of 33 and 35 runs respectively.
Mustafizur Rahman and Taijul Islam took one wicket each for 22 and 27 runs respectively.
Wesley Madhevere was the only batsman of Zimbabwe who made a respectable score. He hit 35 from 44 balls including five fours.
