Dhaka, Oct 24 (Just News): Opener Imrul Kayes struck highest 90 off 111 balls as Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the second one-day international to seal the three-match series in Chattogram on Wednesday.
Imrul and fellow opener Liton Das, who also made 83 off 77 balls runs, shared 148-run for the opening stand helping Bangladesh cruise to 250-3 in 44.1 overs after restricting Zimbabwe to 246-7.
Off-spinner Sikandar Raza claimed all three wickets that fell in the innings but could not deny Bangladesh, who dominated throughout the game apart from a brief period with the ball.
Raza dismissed Liton to break the stand and then also had one-down Fazle Mahmud in his next over, but Imrul, who hit 144 runs in the series opener, denied Zimbabwe further momentum.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun were unbeaten on 40 and 24 runs respectively.
Mithun brought Bangladesh’s 12 successive win over Zimbabwe in style, hitting left-arm spinner Cephas Zhuwao for a six over deep square leg.
Earlier, wicketkeeper-batsman Brendan Taylor struck 75 off 73 balls as Zimbabwe posted their highest score at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Sent into bat first, Zimbabwe lost skipper Hamilton Masakadza (14) early in the innings but some useful knocks from Raza (49) and Sean Williams (47) alongside Taylor put them on course to a big total before the Tigers bite back.
Rookie all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin, who earned the first breakthrough with the wicket of Masakadza, finished with the most impressive figures of 3-45 for the home side.
Taylor added 52 and 77 runs for the second and third wicket respectively with Cephas Zhuwao (20) and Williams to take Zimbabwe to 147-2 after the early blows.
Mahmudullah trapped Taylor leg-before to break a solid stand to bring Bangladesh back in the contest and Saifuddin sent back Williams soon.
Taylor was reprieved on 42 by TV umpire after being given leg-before initially off Mehedi Hasan, struck nine fours and a six in his crispy innings.
Mashrafee bin Murtaza, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudullah and Mehedi claimed one wicket each for Bangladesh.
The third and final match of the series will be held at the same ground on Friday.
(Justnews/ys/2300hr)
