||Desk Report||

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have locked horns with each other in the first clash of their three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla International Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh batsman Fazle Mahmud has been handed his international debut for the Tigers. On the other hand, Sikandar Raza and Chepas Zhuwao have replaced Solomon Mire and Elton Chigumbura for the visiting side.

Things did not go Bangladesh’s way at the start after they decided to bat first. Their struggle to get good starts with the bat again haunted them, as the Tigers lost two wickets in the batting powerplay.

Zimbabwe missed a run-out chance and dropped a catch in the beginning, which could have sent both the of the Bangladesh openers, Liton Das and Imrul Kayes, back to the hut. However, it didn’t take them long to get the breakthrough as Liton (4) and Fazle (0) were dismissed cheaply by Tendai Chatara in the fifth over of the innings.

Just when Kayes was forming a good partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim to bring the situation under control, the latter was caught behind for 19 runs and the original not out decision was overturned on review as Brandon Mavuta registered a wicket to his name.

Kayes picked up a half-century while sharing a crucial 71-run stand with Mohammad Mithun, which was broken by Kyle Jarvis. Mithun's departure for 37 runs initiated a collapse in the Tigers' batting lineup as Jarvis removed Mahmudullah Riyad for a duck, who ended up wasting a review on his way back. The same bowler also dismissed Mehidy Hasan for one run.

Mohammad Saifuddin was also about to add to the host's woes, but he survived a catch-out appeal as an outside edge off his bat touched the ground before ending up into the palms of Craig Ervine, keeping Donald Tripiano from getting a wicket to his name.

Kayes is singlehandedly trying to keep things on track for the Bangladesh team who do not have many arrows left in their quiver.

 

Score

BAN - 143/6 (31.3 Overs)*