All-round Bangladesh thump Zimbabwe in series opener

three-match ODI series. The hosts were bowled for just 48 runs and the batters didn’t have much trouble in chasing down the target with plenty of overs to spare.

Opting to field, Bangladesh were immediately rewarded with the wicket of Zimbabwe opener Ashley Ndiraya in the third over bowled by Alam. Soon the hosts found themselves in further trouble losing the big wicket of skipper Mary-Anne Musonda with Alam castling her for just five.

With Salma Khatun taking out Modester Mupachikwa and Christabel Chatonzwa becoming Alam’s third wicket, Zimbabwe slipped further to 20 for four in 10.1 overs. There was no respite for them even after the pacer’s six-over spell ended and they struggled against the Bangladesh spinners.

Ritu Moni and Nahida Akter tied them down and Moni was the first to strike with the wicket of Chiedza Dhururu. Even though Precious Marange, playing a lone hand, added two boundaries off Moni and one off Fahim Khatun to take the score to 48 – they lost two wickets in the process with Akter striking twice.

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However, Zimbabwe lost last four wickets without adding anymore runs and were bundled out for 48 in the 24^th over. Marange was the highest run-getter for them with 17, while none of the other batters made it to double figures.

For Bangladesh, Alam, Salma and Akter took three wickets each with Moni taking the other wicket.

In the chase, Bangladesh lost Murshida Khatun to Marange for just seven. Sharmin Akhter hit one boundary off Marange before falling to Esther Mbofana when the score was 21 for two in 4.4 overs.

From there, Rumana Ahmed hit three boundaries to take the score to 45 and Fargana Hoque finished the match with a four off Christabel Chatonzwa in the 11^th over.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 48/10 in 23.2 overs (Precious Marange 17; Nahia Akter 2/3, Salma Khatun 3/6) lost to Bangladesh 49/2 in 10.4 overs (Rumana Ahmed 16*; Precious Marange 1/11) by 8 wickets