Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal played a brilliant knock of 95 runs off 96 balls to lead his side to a six-wicket win in the fifth and final One-Day International against Zimbabwe at Dhaka on Sunday.On a track where the rest of the batsmen managed ten boundaries, Tamim pounded Zimbabwe with seven sixes and five fours after starting cautiously and surviving some tingly moments.But at the end he ensured his team a 3-1 series victory
Zimbabwe after opting to bat first had a terrible start to their innings. They were struggling at 21-3 in the 11th over before Craig Ervine teamed up former skipper Tatenda Taibu to revive the Zimbabwe innings. The duo put on 95 runs for the fourth wicket at a very slow rate. Tatenda taibu scored 64 runs which included a six and a four off 104 balls for his 16th half-century in one day internationals. Skipper Elton Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya contributed to increase the total. But the target was always going to be modest for the hosts.
Bangladesh's chances of winning the match improved markedly after skipper Shakib Al Hasan earlier claimed three wickets and Mashrafe bin Mortaza took two wickets to restrict the Zimbabwe team to 188-6 in 50 overs.
Bangladesh in its reply lost an early wicket of Imrul Kayes but the Iqbal smashed five fours and seven sixes to help Bangladesh pass Zimbabwe’s total with seven overs to spare.After being dropped at 24,he did not look back after that, however and again exploded with some powerful driving. He was named man of match for his brilliant knock. He will consider himself unlucky to miss out on a well deserving ton.Zunaed Siddique also scored 56 runs off 116 balls and hit just one four in his innings and was unbeaten when Bangladesh sealed its win in the 43rd over.
It was Bangladesh's second successive one-day series victory at home, having beaten New Zealand in October. They take on Canada and Pakistan in Chittagong and Mirpur respectively – days prior to their first world cup game, against India on February 19.
0 comments:
Post a Comment