Imrul 144 gives Bangladesh emphatic win
His 127-run stand with No. 9 Saifuddin set the tone for a competitive score before their spinners applied the choke
His 127-run stand with No. 9 Saifuddin set the tone for a competitive score before their spinners applied the choke
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: Shashank Kishore
10.20pm A win looked unlikely for Bangladesh as they stumbled to 139 for 6 in 30 overs, but how they've bounced back. Imrul Kayes played the innings of his life to make 144, and with support from Saifuddin haled them past 270. Then with the ball, they were ruthless as you'd expect them to be at home. Mustafizur stifled them early, then the spinners took over and choked Zimbabwe before nailing the final blow. Victory was never in doubt 30 overs into the chase, with the visitors threatening a late charge at no stage despite dew allowing the ball to slide onto the bat a lot easier.
Not all is lost yet for Zimbabwe. This is a long series and they can look back on a few positives. Jarvis finished with four for 37 while Chatara took three wickets and Mavuta got one. Zimbabwe's bowling unraveled in the last 10 overs. What they would be really concerned with is their fielding.
Imrul Kayes is the Man of the Match for his 144.
Two players with different mindsets and in different stages of their career fed off each other in a heartening display of confidence and maturity
His 127-run stand with No. 9 Saifuddin set the tone for a competitive score before their spinners applied the choke
Zimbabwe's captain felt the result could have been different had a couple of moments - including the third umpire adjudging Saifuddin not out when Ervine claimed a low catch - gone his side's way
In the last three years, teams have struggled to push the scoring rate under lights thus making it more favourable for teams batting first
With Bangladesh walking wounded in the absence of two of their seniormost players in Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, Zimbabwe may sense an opportunity