Zimbabwe Bangla-washed again

Bangladesh won the 3rd match of the series against Zimbabwe by 61 runs to complete a remarkable 2015 in ODI cricket.

Bangladesh’s newest pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman was the star with the ball, as he captured five wickets for 34 runs in only eight overs to deny the visitors a consolation win.

The rest of the bowlers took a wicket each to derail Zimbabwe’s chase under the floodlights.

Sean Williams top scored with 64 runs, and his partnership with Chigumbura was crucial in getting his team close to Bangladesh’s total.

Zimbabwe were still in the game with 16 overs left, but the wickets of Waller and Williams basically sealed their fate for tonight.

With his third 5-wicket haul in his career, Mustafizur Rahman ensured Tigers finish 2015 on a high with a 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe.

A double-strike in his seventh over by Mustafizur Rahman hammered the last nail into Zimbabwe’s coffin.

Jongwe and Raza were sent back to the pavilion in consecutive deliveries as Bangladesh stamped their authority over the visiting team in the dead rubber of the series.

Zimbabwe’s hope of victory was snuffed out by Mashrafe Mortaza was the Tigers skipper dismissed Williams for 64 in 84 balls (5 fours).

Fifty from Sean Williams gave Zimbabwe a ray of hope in overtaking Bangladesh’s total at the home of Bangladesh cricket.

Williams held one end with gritty batting, as he notched up his 24th ODI fifty with a four off Mustafizur. Zimbabwe’s middle order batter faced 65 balls in his half century and smashed five fours in his timely knock.

The 80-run 4th wicket partnership between Chigumbura and Williams was looking dangerous before Sabbir Rahman sent back the visiting skipper.

Chigumbura smashed 45 from 47 balls and had six well-timed boundaries to show for his efforts.

The visitors consolidated after the loss of early wickets as skipper Elton Chigumbura and Sean Williams brought up a 50-run stand for the 4th wicket.

Zimbabwe stumbled in their chase of 277 after Nasir Hossain took the third wicket to fall for the visitors inside ten overs.

Criag Ervine fell to Nasir’s straighter one as the batsman was trapped in front for 21 runs. Ervine faced 25 balls and struck four boundaries during his stay at the wicket.

The 39-run 2nd wicket stand was broken by Mustafizur Rahman when his slower ball got the better of Chakabva, and the batsman went back for 17 runs to his name.

Zimbabwe looked to have recovered from the early blow with Regis Chakabva and Craig Ervine at the crease.

Mustafizur Rahman gave his team the perfect start as Zimbabwe opener Chamu Chibhabha was bowled neck and croft in the first over.

The home crowd at Mirpur exploded into a roar as the off-cutter from the Bangladeshi pacer bamboozled the batsman and rattled into the middle stump.

Earlier, Bangladesh recovered from the loss of quick wickets in the death overs through Mahmudullah’s fifty to post 276 for nine in 50 overs.

Mahmudullah came back to form with the unbeaten knock of 52 from 40 balls. He hammered five fours and a huge six over wide long-on during his stay at the wicket.

He held the Bangladesh innings together in the latter part of the match, and enabled his team score at a descent rate in the death overs.

Zimbabwean bowlers, especially Panyangara and Chigumbura bowled straight and full, and didn’t allow the home team to get away from them.

Luke Jongwe and Graeme Cremer captured two scalps each while Panyangara, Sikandar Raza and Malcolm Waller took a wicket in their respective spells.

Tamim and Imrul top-scored for their team with 73 runs.

After a few lusty blows to the cow-corner and straight down the ground, Mashrafe was bowled by Panyangara for 16 as Bangladesh batters tried urgently to score big.

Visiting bowlers maintained discipline in the death overs as Bangladesh lost wickets in a hurry.

Nasir Hossain fell for a second-ball duck, Sabbir Rahman was dismissed for one while Liton Das was sent back for 17 in the space of nine balls.

Zimbabwe clawed back into the match when they stopped the Mushfiq-Liton stand at 17 for the 3rd wicket.

Waller bowled a quickish delivery that found Bangladesh wicketkeeper hopelessly out of his crease, and Mushfiqur Rahim went back with 28 runs to his name.

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal was dismissed for 73 as he tried to up the ante in the power-play overs in the 3rd ODI against Zimbawe at Mirpur stadium.

He faced 98 balls in his solid knock, and smacked seven fours and a massive six to the delight of the home crowd. More importantly, he have Bangladesh a good launching pad for the death overs.

Zimbabwe came back into the match when Sikandar Raza’s off-spin did the trick and dismissed Imrul Kayes after the Tigers lefty scored back to back fifties in the series.

Imrul Kayes scored 73 from 95 balls with six fours and four delightful sixes punctuating his innings.

Together with Tamim, they kept the Zimbabwe bowlers at bay for nearly 30 overs, and managed 147 runs in the process.

Bangladesh openers Tamim and Imrul dictated terms to the Zimbabwe bowlers with their dominant opening stand of 100 in the 3rd ODI at Mirpur.

Tamim reached his seventh ODI fifty against Zimbabwe soon after Imrul with a nudge to square-leg. He played 70 balls and smashed five boundaries in his knock.

Imrul Kayes brought up his 2nd fifty against Zimbabwe in 76 balls (four 4s, 3 6s) and began to open his shoulders with the spinners in operation.

Bangladesh openers built a solid platform with their first wicket stand but were kept honest by probing spells from Zimbabwe bowlers early in the innings.

Both of them took full advantage of anything short and wide on the batting pitch, and spanked some lovely boundaries to keep the scoreboard moving.

Zimbabwe opening bowlers Panyangara and Muzarabani kept the ball around the off-stump more often than not, and didn’t allow the Tigers batters to free their arms as much as they would have liked.

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe won the toss and wanted to put up a good total on board.

This is the first time Mashrafe had won the toss this series. Both sides are unchanged.

With the series in the kitty, Bangladesh may eye some experimentation, but that's quite unlikely.

Bangladesh's surge began with their 5-0 sweep over Zimbabwe in 2014, and the hosts find themselves on another sweep against the same opponents.

Shakib had left on paternity leave, but Kayes quelled his nerves with some advice from his "boss", and struck 76 on return, setting up Bangladesh's fifth ODI series win on the bounce.

The bowlers have also been steady, besides benefiting from Zimbabwe's poor shot selection.

Tamim opened the innings sensibly in the 3rd ODI against Zimbabwe at Mirpur. File Photo: AFP

Bangladesh Team

Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza (Captain), Arafat Sunny, Al-Amin Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman

Zimbabwe Team

CJ Chibhabha, RW Chakabva (Wicketkeeper), CR Ervine, SC Williams, E Chigumbura (Captain), Sikandar Raza, MN Waller, LM Jongwe, AG Cremer, T Panyangara and T Muzarabani