Bangladesh ran through the Zimbabwean batting line up as they beat the hosts by a comprehensive margin of 121 runs in the first ODI at Bulawayo on Friday.
Pacer Ziaur Rahman led from the front, picking up a 5-wicket haul.
He was presented with the Man of the Match award.
Shafiul Islam collected 3 wickets, while Robiul Islam and Abdur Razzak shared 2 more between them.
Hamilton Masakadza top scored for Zimbabwe with 38, while Captain Brendan Taylor and Shingi Masakadza scored 33 each.
Shafiul removed opener Regis Chakabva and Sikandar Raza within 4 overs in the chase to dent the Zimbabwean hopes.
Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza resisted for a while in the third wicket partnership, but Taylor’s dismissal to Razzak in the 15th over started a collapse.
The hosts were reduced to 93 for 7 in the 22nd over, before finally being all out for 148.
Earlier, Bangladesh set a target of 270 for the hosts as the visitors scored 269 for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs, thanks to a run-a-ball 68 from Nasir Hossain.
Openers Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful gave the visitors a flying start as they raced to 65 in 13 overs.
Tamim was the first batsman to be dismissed after he made a brisk 39, while his opening partner Mohammad Ashraful scored 29.
Mominul Haque at number three scored a patient 38 from 66 balls, after whose dismissal a batting collapse rattled Bangladesh.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan were dismissed in quick succession having scored 5 and 1 respectively.
Nasir Hossain then steadied the batting, scoring 68 from 67 balls that consisted of seven boundaries and one six.
After Nasir’s departure, vice captain Mahmudullah Riyad added 36 with support from tail-enders Ziaur Rahman and Abdur Razzak. Ziaur scored 12, while Razzak was unbeaten on 16.
Pacer Shingi Masakadza was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe, collecting 4 wickets. Tendai Chatara claimed 2 wickets with Tineshe Panyangara picking up one as well.
Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor has won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Bangladesh made four changes to their starting XI that toured Sri Lanka last month.
Tamim Iqbal returned after missing two matches in Sri Lanka due to a thumb injury. Shakib Al Hasan too returned to ODI cricket after an injury break of 12 months.
Robiul Islam made his ODI debut while Shafiul Islam was playing for the first time after the West Indies series, having missed the last tour due to a stomach muscle injury.
Bangladesh has played two test matches against Zimbabwe in this tour. Zimbabwe won the first Test by 335 runs while the tigers won the 2nd Test by 143 runs.
The home side have won 12 out of 46 matches at this ground. Their last match here was a one-wicket win over New Zealand. Bangladesh are among the two teams to have won six matches at this ground. They have only lost two out of the eight matches they played here.
Squads:
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Abdur Razzak, Robiul Islam, Shafiul Islam.
Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza, Regis Chakabva, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Shingi Masakadza, Tineshe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara.
Source: The Daily Star
