Zimbabwe stun Bangladesh in low-scoring thriller to take 1-0 series lead

Nahid Rana's career best total of 6 for 21 was also the best total ever scored by a Bangladesh player in an ODI cricket match. However, his efforts were in vain as Zimbabwe prevailed in a low-scoring first ODI in Harare thanks to a collective bowling performance. After being asked to bat, the hosts were bowled out for 141 under Rana's pace and bounce, with No. 9 Newman Nyamhuri scored the most runs in the innings with 33. On a surface that provided ample support for the quicks, Zimbabwe then used just four bowling options, all of which were pacers, to bowl Bangladesh out for 116. Blessing Muzarabani and Nyamhuri each took two wickets in Zimbabwe's 25-run victory. Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava each took three wickets. After a successful 36-run opening stand, Zimbabwe's innings came to an abrupt end. Before Ben Curran was run out off the fourth ball of the seventh over, the openers appeared to be in control. Curran's dismissal swung the momentum decisively in Bangladesh's favor. After two deliveries, Taskin Ahmed killed Brian Bennett, but Nahid Rana broke into the fight and caused a collapse. When Taskin bowled Craig Ervine and took his second wicket, Zimbabwe fell to 38 for 3 in the ninth over. Rana's sheer speed took center stage from that point on. The fast bowler took the wickets of Sikandar Raza, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande, Innocent Kaia, and Evans for a stunning five-wicket haul as Zimbabwe fell to 70 for 8 in the 20th over. He bowled at a good pace and hurried the batters with sharp lift and unrelenting hostility. The home team only got a four and a six from Kaia off Soumya Sarkar. Other than that, not much happened in their favor. Nyamhuri and Skipper Richard put up some tough resistance in the 27th over, keeping Bangladesh at bay and achieving Zimbabwe's 100. Nyamhuri shot with confidence, aiming at the spinners for regular boundaries. In the 30th over, Ngarava was given a chance. He was dropped at long-on, and the ball went for a four. Another boundary followed, raising the half-century stand. They reached 63 before Rana took his sixth wicket and bowled Ngarava for 27, ending their partnership. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the Bangladesh ODI captain, took Nyamhuri out in the 37th over to end Zimbabwe's innings short of 150 runs. Zimbabwe needed to take early wickets to win, and they got them when Muzarabani and Ngarava bowled together to get the visitors to 17 for 3. Nyamhuri made a great catch on Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who was caught at fine leg off Muzarabani and was the first to leave. Najmul Hossain Shanto was caught at third man in Muzarabani's second over while Sarkar also top-edged to third man off Ngarava. Towhid Hridoy and Nurul Hasan formed a watchful partnership, with Nurul Hasan also suffering an elbow injury from a Muzarabani punch. After ten overs, Bangladesh are 32 for 3 thanks to Nurul's six-ball pull off Evans. Hridoy continued to be troubled by Muzarabani, who delivered a punch that was too short to hit his rib cage. With Muzarabani and Evans bowling maidens, Zimbabwe kept things tight and reduced the boundaries. However, the pair that took the fourth wicket continued to work hard, scoring 49 runs off 88 deliveries. However, their partnership came to an end when Nyamhuri received extra bounce, which led to Hridoy's demise. In Nyamhuri's subsequent over, Mosaddek Hossain fell after pushing at a delivery outside off to edge it behind, putting Bangladesh in trouble at 74 for 5. Mehidy scored with a streaky boundary off Ngarava, but the Zimbabwe captain dismissed him shortly after, using the short ball once more. From 89 for 6, it became 99 for 8 as Nurul was trapped in front and Rishad Hossain edged to slip, both dismissed by Evans, who also bowled a wicket maiden. As soon as Taskin got a four, Evans hit a short ball to extra cover for his third, leaving Bangladesh at 105 for 9. Zimbabwe won the match in the 34th over thanks to Mustafizur Rahman's four off Muzarabani before Ngarava returned to the attack and dismissed him.