Raza, Kaia pull Zimbabwe back in the game

Following a lacklustre start, hosts Zimbabwe managed to consolidate their innings through their fourth-wicket stand and have given themselves a fighting chance to win the first ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at the Harare Sports Club today.

Chasing 304, Zimbabwe found themselves in a spot of bother at 62 for three after 13.1 overs. However, in-form Sikandar Raza came in at number five and strung an unbeaten 108-run partnership off 119 balls with Innocent Kaia.

Zimbabwe are 170 for three after 33 overs and need a further 134 off the remaining 17 overs, with dangerman Ryan Burl still to bat.  

Raza, unbeaten on a run-a-ball 63, struck three sixes so far and brought up his 21st ODI fifty by dispatching a Mustafizur Rahman delivery over long off for a maximum. On the other end, rookie batter Kaia struck his second ODI fifty and is not out on 74.