Fifties galore as Tigers reach 303 for 2

Liton Das hit 81 and Anamul Haque Bijoy struck 73 on return to the ODI playing eleven after two years as Bangladesh reached 303 for 2 in the first ODI against Zimbabwe at Harare today.

Liton was retired hurt after he apparently pulled a muscle while running between the wickets and had to be stretchered off the field in the 34th over. Bijoy, who had stitched together a 52-run stand with Liton, carried on to reach his fifty off 47 deliveries in the 41st over with a six over long on off Milton Shumba. Bijoy was dropped in the 45th over but did not capitalise by getting a bigger score as he was holed out to long on off Victor Nyauchi after a 62-ball 73, laced with six fours and three sixes.

Mushfiqur Rahim notched fifty while Mahmudullah Riyad struck a 12-ball 20 to put the finishing touches as Bangladesh put on a big score on the board. Earlier, Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal notched the 8000-run landmark in ODI cricket with 62.

Photo: Collected

Liton retires hurt after scoring 81

Bangladesh batter Liton Das retired hurt after scoring 81 in the first ODI against Zimbabwe at Harare today. Having strung together a 52-run stand with number three Anamul Haque Bijoy, Liton felt muscle cramp and had to be stretchered off the field as Mushfiqur Rahim came in to bat.

Earlier, Liton notched his seventh ODI fifty and had put together a hundred partnership with Tamim before the skipper departed for 62. Bijoy is unbeaten on 28 off 29 as Bangladesh reached 184 for 1 in 35 overs. 

Photo: Zimbabwe Cricket Twitter account

Tamim departs after notching 8000-run peak

Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das notched their fourth hundred partnership in ODIs during the first ODI against Zimbabwe at Harare today.

Tamim notched his 54th career fifty in 80 deliveries with a single off Milton Shumba. Tamim's knock is laced with nine fours. Liton is unbeaten on 44 off 64 as Bangladesh reached 116 for no loss in 25 overs. However, following a 119-run opening stand, the partnership was broken by Sikandar Raza.

Tamim became the first Bangladesh batter to reach 8000 runs in ODI cricket. He took 239 matches to reach the mark, with a career average of 37.20. Tamim is well above second-placed Shakib Al Hasan, who has 6755 runs to his name in the list of Tigers' top run-getters.

Tamim departed to Sikandar Raza in the 26th over, getting a top-edge as he tried to pull away a shorter delivery after a 88-ball 62.

Photo: Zimbabwe Cricket official Twitter account

Tigers start well with Tamim and Liton

Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das stitched together a fifty-run stand as the Tigers saw off the challenge of the new ball with a bit of seam and bounce on the surface in the early start at Harare today.

After 12 overs, the Tigers were 56. Tamim was on 32 off 35 deliveries with five fours. Liton was watchful on a 37-ball 18.