||Desk Report||

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have locked horns with each other in the first clash of their three-match ODI series.

Winning the toss Bangladesh decided to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla International Stadium. Their struggle to get good starts with the bat once again haunted them, as the Tigers lost two early wickets. They again suffered a collapse in their batting lineup and became 139/6 before opener Imrul Kayes and Mohammad Saifuddin rescued the hosts with the team’s highest seventh wicket ODI stand worth 127 runs.

Imrul picked up his third ODI century and Saifuddin also belted a fifty as Bangladesh posted a score of 271/8.

In reply, Zimbabwe were off to a flying start before Mustafizur Rahman earned the breakthrough for his side by uprooting Cephas Zhuwao’s off stump for 35 runs. Brandon Taylor (5) then fell cheaply as Nazmul Islam bowled him out. The Zimbabwe skipper, Hamilton Masakadza was the next batsman to return to the pavilion as he fell victim to a run out.

The Bangladesh bowlers have somewhat choked the flow of runs and will try get full control over the opponents by scalping a few more wickets. On the other hand, Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza, the two batters at the crease, will be looking to weather the storm for the visitors who are capable of turning things around from here.

 

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