Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe comprehensively
by CricketArchive Staff Reporter
DateLine: 9th August 2009
A good bowling show by Bangladesh first restricted Zimbabwe to a below-par 207 and then a scintillating century from Mohammad Ashraful helped the side clinch a comprehensive win in the first ODI in Bulawayo.
Chasing 208, on an good batting surface, Bangladesh did not face any problems against the weak Zimbabwean attack. First a good platform was laid by Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique and then Ashraful made sure Bangladesh continued
their good run in the ODI format.
The right-hander never looked in any problem and looked pretty good against
Ray Price. In the 15th over of the innings, bowled by Price, former Bangladeshi skipper took four boundaries, that included a handsome six over
long-on. Ashraful looked good against the seamers as well which included a
good looking pull against Hamilton Masakadza. He brought up his third ODI hundred with a delicate late cut against Mazakadza. Ashraful's though wasn't the only hero as his work was made easier by the good opening start. The two openers added 30 runs in just four overs which gave the innings a flying start.
Though Tamim started off in a sedate fashion after the first over wherein he hit two boundaries, it was Siddique who started off like a house on fire against Chamu Chibhaba. He hit three successive off-side boundaries in the second over, a caressed cover drive being the highlight, and followed it with two successive boundaries in the fourth over before hitting one straight to mid-off.
Earlier, disciplined bowling from the Bangladesh made sure Zimbabwe struggled on a good batting surface. Only Mark Vermeulen could resist a bowling attack which is looking stronger by the day in this format of the game. Vermeulen who was making a comeback after last playing in 2004 put on a pleasing show as he caressed his way to a fine half-century.
The right-hander repeatedly rocked back and hit the ball on either side. He
had his share of luck though when he survived a good looking shout for lbw when Shakib rapped him on the pads with an arm ball. He was also dropped by Nazmul at deep midwicket off the same bowler.
Vermeulen did not look back after these let-offs and went on looking comfortable against spin and seam. Post fifty, he grew more cautious and proceeded to deal in singles and looked set for a hundred when he was run out eight runs short of the landmark.
He hardly had any support from others though and apart from Bendan Taylor
with whom he added 49 runs, there were hardly any good partnerships. Taylor though fell for 20, adjudged lbw against Shakib when he perhaps got an inside edge.
