||Desk Report||

Imrul Kayes scored a magnificent hundred while Saifuddin's maiden half-century guided Bangladesh to 271/8 despite a few wobbles.

Bangladesh were 139/6 at one stage before Imrul and Saifuddin added 127 runs for the seventh wicket to help the host avoid an embarrassment.

Imrul made 144 with the help of 13 fours and six sixes while Saifuddin played a 69-ball 50 runs' innings comprising three boundaries and a six to entharall the crowd present at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

Apart from Imrul Kayes and Saifuddin, who looked desperate to seize the opportunity of making their case stronger for a permanent place in the 50-over setup, all the other batsmen seemed to be in a hurry to returning to the dressing room after going to bat.

Tigers, who came back to the SBNS after a gap of eight months, cannot blame anyone apart from themselves for their own downfall in a wicket that did not seem to be unpredictable unlike the way skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza described in the official press conference ahead of the tournament.

The Zimbabwean skipper Hamilton Masakadza must be relieved that it was a good toss to lose as his opponents' decision looked to have boomeranged in front near-full capacity crowd.

Liton Kumar Das, who was miserable to say the least during his brief stay at the wicket, apparently opted for some wild slogs instead of batting sensibly when his temperament was tested by the two opening bowlers in the in the initial overs.

Bangladesh were held to 17/2 after they lost opener Liton Das and debutant Fazle Rabbi within the sixth over.

Liton was reprieved by third umpire on two after Sikandar Raza failed to ake a clean catch at point. However, the batsman failed to utilize his opportunity and was dismissed scoring four runs.

The right-hander decided to go over the top of mid-off to be caught at mid-off off Tendai Chatara against a delivery that could have been handled much better if he just tried to play a cricketing stroke.

Fazle Mahmud Rabbi, who became the 129th cricketer to represent Bangladesh in ODIs, failed to open his account falling to the raising delivery of the same bowler.

Imrul and Mushfiqur Rahim tried to repair the innings adding 49 runs for the third wicket before the latter was dismissed by spinner Brandon Mavuta after making 15 runs.

Mohammad Mithun also had a start but failed to capitalize while Mahmudullah could not even open his account.

Zimbabwe pace bowlers bowled in the right areas and more precisely bowled more fuller than short of length knowing the wicket is expected to help the batsman with a proper bounce if they decide to alter their plan as it was life in it, thanks to the long gap.

Tigers decision to attack instead of taking their time in relatively fresh wicket cannot be described anything other than a foolish act more so after their opener Imrul Kayes showed how to construct an innings in such a condition.