Sabbir Hossain :
A four-wicket haul with hat-trick by debutante Taijul Islam powered Bangladesh to whitewash their counterpart Zimbabwe by 5-0 in the five-match ODI series on Monday.
The Tigers posted a facile five-wicket victory over the tourists in the fifth and last ODI match at the crowd-packed Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Bangladesh registered a massive 87-run victory in the first ODI in Chittagong on November 21, posted a huge 68-run victory in the second ODI in Chittagong on November 23, composed a resounding 124-run victory in the third ODI in Dhaka on November 26 and earned an easy 21-run victory in the fourth ODI in Dhaka on November 28.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam bowled extremely well and finished his splendid spell as 7-2-11-4. Taijul Islam was adjudged the Player of the Match for his superb bowling.
Chasing Zimbabwe’s paltry total of 128 off 30 overs, the Tigers sailed home in 24.3 overs making 130 for the loss of five wickets.
Bangladesh lost their early four wickets for 58 runs.
Then Mahmudulah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim contributed together 35 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Mushfiqur Rahim was caught behind by wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor off Tendai Chatara when the team’s total was 93 for the loss of five wickets.
After departure of Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman joined Mahmudullah Riyad and added 37 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket partnership to reach the winning spot.
Mahmudullah Riyad led his team from the frontline making an unbeaten 51. He hit 10 boundaries in his chanceless 55-ball innings. It was Riyad’s 11th ODI half century.
Tendai Chatara grabbed three wickets at the cost of 44 runs while Tinashe Panyangara bagged a pair of wickets for 49 runs.
Earlier, Zimbabwe lost their first wicket for 16 runs.
Then Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda put on together a respectable 79 in the second wicket stand before Masakadza was bowled by leg-spinner Jubair Hossain when the tourists total was 95 for the loss of two wickets.
Experienced Masakadza hit a notable 52 from 54 balls with five fours and three sixes while Vusi Sibanda made 37 before he was caught at the midwicket by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza off Shakib Al Hasan when Zimbabwe’s score was 109 for the loss of four wickets.
After dismissal of Sibanda, no Zimbabwean batsman could reach double digit figures facing superb spin attack of Bangladesh.
Taijul Islam dismissed Tinashe Panyangara for naught, removed John Nymbu for three and then fulfilled his hat-trick after dismissed Tendai Chatara for zero.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan captured three wickets instead of 30 runs while leg-spinner Jubair Hossain bagged a couple of wickets for 41 runs.
