Bangladesh came within 14 runs of winning their first one-day international series here Friday but eventually lost to Zimbabwe in a tense match. Having won the third match in the series on Wednesday after the first two were washed out, Bangladesh appeared on course for a decisive victory when they had Zimbabwe reeling on 31-2, 34-3 and 46-4.
But Zimbabwe’s captain Heath Streak and Sean Ervine put on a sixth-wicket stand of 76 to rescue the home side from 79 for five and set them on their way to a total of 242 for eight in the fourth one-day international.
In reply, Bangladesh were also in difficulties early on with the scoreboard showing 40-3 and then 70-4.
They too recovered but not quite so well nor so quickly as Zimbabwe and towards the final stages of their innings they were needing about eight an over, which proved an impossible task for the tailenders in fading light.
Streak was the key figure, scoring 45 for himself in the stand with Ervine and then taking four Bangladesh wickets, his seventh four-wicket haul in one-day internationals.
He also pulled off a spectacular run-out of Mohammad Rafique, who had been lashing out towards the end. Streak was not surprisingly named man of the match.
Good contributions to Zimbabwe’s total came also from Dion Ebrahim, who rode his luck for 33 and especially from Andy Blignaut, whose 28 not out required only 17 balls.
Blignaut broke down in his fourth over when Bangladesh replied, suffering once more from the thigh strain that kept him out for three weeks and he will certainly miss the final showdown on Sunday.
But Streak and medium pacer Gary Brent proved a sound bowling partnership. Streak ended with 4-30 from his 10 overs while Brent’s 9,1 overs resulted in 2-32.
Bangladesh went after the spinners Grant Flower and Ray Price.
Paceman Sean Ervine was also expensive as Mushfiqur Rahman with 49, Khaled Mashud, 41, and Mohammad Rafique with 26 set about their task.
The tourists still have an opportunity to win their first one-day series in two days’ time when Zimbabwe can expect a major struggle on their hands in order to end the Bangladesh tour on a high note. – Sapa-AFP