Bangladesh celebrate after whitewashing Zimbabwe 3-0
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Bangladesh pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman claimed a five-wicket haul, while Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes and Mahmdullah scored 73, 73 and 52 respectively to lead their side to a 61-run over Zimbabwe in the third ODI in Mirpur.
However, Zimbabwe batsman Sean Williams deserves a lot of credit for his valiant innings of 64.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza would have been delighted with his decision to bat first as Iqbal and Kayes amassed a 147-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before Kayes was stumped by Regis Chakabva off the bowling of Sikandar Raza.
Kayes’ brilliant knock of 73 came off 95 balls and included six boundaries and four sixes.
Kayes scored his second consecutive half-century
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Iqbal went on to score 73 as well, which came off 98 deliveries and included seven boundaries and a six, before he was stumped by Chakabva off the bowling of Graeme Cremer.
Iqbal scored his 32nd ODI fifty
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Following Iqbal’s dismissal, Bangladesh started to collapse and struggled to mount any offense. However, Mahmudullah changed all that as he smashed a quickfire 52 off 40 balls, which included five boundaries and a six, to help his side finish on 276/9 off their 50 overs.
Mahmudullah hit five boundaries and a six during his knock of 52
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Cremer and Luke Jongwe picked up two wickets apiece, while Raza, Tinashe Panyangara and Malcolm Waller chipped in with one wicket each.
Chasing 277 to win, Williams was the only batsman to have an impact with the bat, but he did receive some excellent support from captain Elton Chigumbura, who scored 45.
Williams made 64 off 84 balls, which included five boundaries, before he was caught by Sabbir Rahman off the bowling of Mortaza.
Williams made a gutsy 64
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With Waller being the next highest scorer with 32, Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 215.
Mustafizur Rahman inflicted the most damage with five wickets, while Mortaza, Sabbir Rahman, Arafat Sunny, Nasir Hossain and Al-Amin Hossain claimed one wicket each.
Iqbal was named Man of the Match, while Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim received the Man of the Series award.