Sports Reporter
Zimbabwe all-rounder Elton Chigumbura follows through on a delivery during a fine overall show in the first ODI against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Chigumbura took three wickets and effected a superb run-out to restrict the hosts. He then hit an imperious unbeaten half-century under pressure to propel the Africans to a five-wicket win. Photo: STAR Elton Chigumbura stole the show with a clinical all-round performance as the Tigers suffered a five-wicket defeat in the first one-dayer of the five-match series against Zimbabwe at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
It was however Shakib Al Hasan's men's dismal batting show, which ensured that the visitor's drew the first blood in the series although they started the battle with a tag of “underdog” and with a bitter memory of losing the last series 4-1 against the same opponents at home in August this year.
Chigumbura first caused the damage with his military medium pace bowling and then showed character with the bat as Zimbabwe recovered from Abdur Razzak's magical spell to achieve the target of 189 for five in 34 overs under lights in 35.4 overs with five wickets in hand.
Left-arm spinner Razzak revived hope by taking three wickets in the eighth over but Chigumbura, who hit an unbeaten 60 off 50 balls, and Stuart Matsikenyeri made sure that their bowlers' effort would not go into vain. Matsikenyeri added an unbeaten 47 off 55 balls.
The crowd showed their angers throwing empty mineral water bottles into the pitch while the two batsmen almost confirmed their team's victory which stopped the play for a while.
It was guessed that the team winning the toss would like to bat first considering the fact that the dew later on could be a major factor in the day-night affair but Zimbabwean skipper Prosper Utseya had different planning and it clicked owing to mindless batting from the local batters.
It's true the visiting bowlers kept it tight to justify their captain's decision of fielding first but it was poor batting approach of Jamie Siddons charges, which helped Zimbabwe to take the upper hand in the season's first battle.
From a dire state of 62 for 6, Bangladesh could manage a decent total of 186 before being bundled out in 46.5 overs thanks to sensible batting from vice-captain Mushfiqur Rahim and a brilliant power-hitting display from Dollar Mahmud, who entertained some 20,000 present by hitting four boundaries and three sixes during his 30-ball 41.
The wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur did exactly what was required from the top order batsmen against the medium pace attack led by Elton Chigumbura, who made the early damage by taking three wickets.
The 21-year old right-hander, during his 78-ball 56 that hit five boundaries and completed his fourth half-century with a lovely shot
Left-arm spinner Ray Price broke the partnership when Nayeem swept and got a top edge to reach at deep backward square leg where Charles Coventry took a simple catch to put an end the right-hander's 47-ball 21 knock.
Then Dollar took charge to give some life in the match as the right-hander launched a counterattack against Kyle Jarvis, who set the tune for Zimbabwe with the new ball, by smashing two fours and a six in a over which was followed by two consecutive sixes against Price on the following over.
The right-hander associated 54 runs with Rahim in the ninth wicket and his effort salvaged the blushes of the home team as well providing a total for the bowlers to defend under floodlights.
Before that it was all about a suicidal effort from Zunaed Siddiqui, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Rokibul Hasan and captain Shakib Al Hasan.
Zunaed started the rot when the left-hander drove without any bite against a wide of off stump delivery from Chigumbura only to reach at the safe hand of Matsikenyeri at cover while his partner Tamim fell to the same bowler trying to drive through the off-side without any footwork to take an edge to keeper Tatenda Taibu.
Ashraful looked well but again it was Chigumbura who dismissed the ace batsmen when the right-hander unnecessarily went for a big booming drive through the off side but edged it to Taibu
And then it was stupid run out which deepened the woe. A tossed up delivery from Utseya and Rokibul worked it away behind square on the leg side and got a call from Shakib for single but captain changed his mind after taking couple of steps. It was too late for Rokibul as Chigumbura's throw came in at the striker's end and Taibu clipped the bails.
Bangladesh fell in big trouble when Justice Chibhabha removed Shakib, who drove well away from his body and ended up with a faint edge to Taibu.
