Bangladesh clinched a three-wicket victory in the final one day international
against Zimbabwe in Dhaka to secure a 5-0 series whitewash on Saturday.
After being put into bat, Stuart Matsikenyeri made a
creditable 75 but Zimbabwe were restricted to 193 for eight from their 50 overs.
Openers Shahriar Nafees (33) and Mehrab Hossain jnr
(45) gave Bangladesh a solid start in their pursuit of 194 and, although the
hosts did not have it all their own way thereafter, an unbeaten 32 from captain
Habibul Bashar helped see them home with an over to spare.
Zimbabwe paceman Gary Brent was named man of the
match after finishing with four for 22 from his 10 overs.
Brent saw off Bangladesh's top four batsmen to put his side back in with a
chance after they had reached 86 without loss after 19 overs.
He trapped Nafees and Aftab Ahmed lbw, the former playing across
the line while trying to flick the ball on the onside but missing it completely,
and the latter - on four runs - attempting a flick towards fine leg.
Mohammad Ashraful added 14 to the total before dragging back
onto his stumps when trying to cut a good-length delivery from outside off-stump.
Hossain then departed five runs short of his half-century,
the ball keeping low and crashing onto his stumps to leave Bangladesh on 114
for four in the 32nd over.
Bashar steadied the ship with 32 from 59 balls, but could only
look on as Sazibul Hasan (13), Mashrafe Mortaza (nought) and Farhad Reza (five)
came and went.
Mushfiqur Rahim then arrived at the crease and contributed
a quickfire 15 from 19 balls to ensure yet another victory for Bangladesh.
Earlier, Matsikenyeri, opening the batting with Tino Mawoyo,
anchored the tourists' innings, facing 114 balls and hitting seven fours as
he registered only the fourth ODI half-century of his career.
However, he got precious little support as the next highest
scorers in the Zimbabwe side were Chamu Chibhabha and Elton Chigumbura who both
had 27.
Mawoyo's was the first wicket the fall as the 20-year-old was
clean bowled by Syed Rasel with the score on 28.
Matsikenyeri and Chibhabada then put on 63 for the second wicket
before Chibhabha was the victim of a run-out, trying to turn a single into two
runs and failing to make his ground before Abdul Razzak's throw found wicketkeeper
Rahim.
After Chigumbura was caught behind off Hossain's delivery,
the Zimbabwe wickets began to tumble.
Matsikenyeri was the next out, caught at point by Razzaq after
slashing at another Hossain ball.
Sean Williams then went for 14, Mluleki Nkala departed for
13, Gary Brent made just three and Prosper Utseya was bowled by Mortaza for
two with the last ball of the innings.
Keith Dabengwa was unbeaten on 13 at the close.
Mortaza was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with three wickets
for 36.
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