||Desk Report||

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are facing each other in the dead rubber third and final ODI at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury in Chittagong.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first. Abu Hider and Mohammad Saifuddin justified the decision by removing the openers within first three overs.

Hamilton Masakadza was out bowled by Hider for 2 runs and Saifuddin rattled the stumps of Cephas Zhuwao for naught.

Brandon Taylor and Sean Williams again put up a rescue act, restoring the Zimbabwean innings after Bangladesh’s early strikes. Taylor launched an onslaught against the opponents while Williams kept rotating the strike, standing firm at one end. Both the batsman completed their half-centuries and stitched together a 132-run stand.

Taylor was dismissed for the same score as the last match, against Nazmul Islam this time. His 71-ball innings of 75 runs was laced with eight fours and three sixes.

Taylor’s departure was followed by a huge six from Sikandar Raza off the very first ball that he faced. Togther Raza and Williams formed another 84-run partnership. Raza became Nazmul’s second scalp, scoring 40 runs.

Williams went on to belt a century and remained unbeaten till the end of Zimbabwe’s innings, with 129 runs to his name. Unlike the last game, Zimbabwe were more composed in their approach in the slog overs as they posted 77 runs in the last 10 overs. Before getting run out in the last over, Peter Moor shared a 62-run stand with Williams.

Though Nazmul got two wickets to his name, he was a bit expensive today, allowing 58 runs in eight overs while Mashrafe, too, conceded 56 runs in eight overs.

Zimbabwe ended up setting a target of 287 runs, losing just four of their wickets.

Bangladesh will now have to take full advantage of the dew factor while batting and have no room for mistakes in order to stay alive in the contest.