Sports Reporter :Bangladesh maintained their winning streak when the Tigers recorded an easy 21-run victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth ODI at the flood-lit Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.Bangladesh have now 4-0 lead in the 5-match ODI series with remaining one match scheduled to be held on December 1 at the same venue.Bangladesh registered a massive 87-run victory over their African counterpart in the first ODI at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on November 21.The Tigers composed an emphatic 68-run victory over the tourists in the second ODI at the same venue on November 23.Bangladesh posted a resounding 124-run victory over the visitors in the third ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on November 26.Deciding to bat first, Bangladesh made a fighting 256 for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then they restricted Zimbabwe to 235 for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.Bangladesh faced en early collapse as they lost their first four wickets for 32 runs. Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan returned to the pavilion scoring 16, 5, 5 and 1 respectively.Then Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim salvaged their team contributing together 134 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Mushfiqur Rahim was caught at the cover by Elton Chigumbura off Tafadzwa Kamungozi when the team’s total was 166 for the loss five wickets.Mahmudullah Riyad remained unbeaten with 82. His 112-ball innings was studded with six fours. Riyad hit his 10th ODI half century using 79 balls. Mahmudullah Riyad was adjudged the Player of the Match for his terrific innings.Mushfiqur Rahim notched up a superb 77 off 78 balls featuring seven fours. It was Mushfiqur Rahim’s 18th ODI half century.After departure of Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman and Abul Hasan were dismissed for four and one respectively. Then Mahmudullah Riyad and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza added together 65 runs in the eighth wicket stand before Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was caught behind by wicketkeeper Peter Moor off Neville Madziva when the Tigers total was 242 for the loss of eight wickets.Mashrafe hit a quick-fire 39 off 25 balls including four fours and two sixers.Solomon Mire and Neville Madziva captured three wickets each at the cost of 49 and 60 runs respectively while Tafadzwa Kamungozi took two wickets for 36 runs.Later, Brendan Taylor and Solomon Mire fought back against Bangladesh dominated bowling attack making 63 and 52 runs respectively.Shakib Al Hasan, Jubair Hossain and Rubel Hossain bagged a pair of wickets each for 28, 42 and 48 runs respectively. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took one wicket instead of 34 runs.
