Imrul Kayes celebrates after scoring his third ODI century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes hammered a career-best 144 to help his side defeat Zimbabwe by 28 runs in the first ODI in Dhaka.

Choosing to bat first, Bangladesh were dealt an early blow as opener Liton Das was dismissed by Tendai Chatara for four runs.

Chatara struck again five balls later as he had debutant Fazle Mahmud caught behind for a duck.

Kayes and Mushfiqur Rahim stabilised the innings with a 49-run partnership before Rahim was caught behind off the bowling of Brandon Mavuta for 15.

Kayes and Mohammad Mithun kept the runs flowing with a 71-run partnership, during which Kayes surpassed his fifty, before Mithun was caught behind off the bowling of Kyle Jarvis for 37.

Jarvis got his second wicket four balls later as Mahmudullah fell in the same fashion as Mithun for a duck.

In his next over, Jarvis had Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught behind for one run.

Kayes and Mohammad Saifuddin halted Zimbabwe’s charge as they forged a 127-run partnership before Kayes was dismissed by Jarvis for a career-best 144, which came off 140 balls and included 13 boundaries and six sixes.

Saifuddin went on to make a 69-ball 50, which included three boundaries and a six, as Bangladesh finished on 271/8.

Jarvis was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Chatara snapped up three and Mavuta chipped in with one.

Chasing 272 to win, Zimbabwe made a solid start to their innings before opener Cephas Zhuwao was clean bowled by Mustafizur Rahman for a 24-ball 35.

Brendan Taylor only scored five runs before he was cleaned up by Nazmul Islam, while captain Hamilton Masakadza was run out by Kayes for 21.

Sikandar Raza and Craig Ervine fell shortly after, but Peter Moor and Sean Williams halted Bangladesh’s charge with a 45-run partnership.

Moor ended up being trapped lbw off the bowling of Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 26, while Donald Tiripano and Mavuta were on their way back to the pavilion shortly after.

Williams and Jarvis kept Zimbabwe in the hunt as they amassed a 67-run partnership before Jarvis was caught behind off the bowling of Mahmudullah for 37.

Williams went on to finish unbeaten on 50, which came off 58 balls and included five boundaries and a six, as Zimbabwe concluded their innings on 243/9.

Mehidy was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Nazmul took two, and Mahmudullah and Mustafizur claimed one wicket each.

Kayes was named Man of the Match.