Vitori, Sibanda set up Zimbabwe win
CRICKET: HARARE, Aug 12 (AFP) - Brian Vitori became the first
Zimbabwean to take five wickets on his one-day international debut and
Vusi Sibanda made a cultured 96 as the home side beat Bangladesh by four
wickets in the first of five ODIs at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
The 21-year-old Vitori took five for 30 as Bangladesh were restricted
to 184 all out, the captain Shakib Al Hassan and Mushfiqur Rahim both
scoring half-centuries in the only partnership of any merit.
Sibanda then led the way with the bat for Zimbabwe, striking 96 from
102 balls and sharing a second wicket stand of 86 with Hamilton
Mazakadza (41) as the home side reached their target with 8.2 overs to
spare.
"It was great to have a youngster performing really well and two old
hands showing what quality players they still are," said Zimbabwe
captain Brendan Taylor who had no hestitation in asking Bangladesh to
bat first when he won the toss.
The tourists made just six in the first five overs before left-arm
quick Vitori left a trail of wreckage at the top of the order, snatching
four wickets for 21 in a spell of eight overs as he removed Tamim Iqbal
for four, Imrul Kayes (11), Shahriar Nafeez (14) and Mohammad Ashraful
(2).
At that point Bangladesh were reeling at 33 for four and things got
even worse when Mahmudullah was dismissed by Elton Chigumbura for five
with the score 43 for five in the 17th over.
Shakib and Rahim then began the fightback, both batting sensibly and
securely as they added 105 in 23 overs.
The stand ended, though, when Shakib, who made 53 off 63 balls with
just two boundaries, was superbly caught by Prosper Utseya off
Mazakadza.
Rahim lasted another four overs, making 59 off 93 balls with five
fours, before falling to Utseya, the 100th wicket of his ODI career.
Ray Price and Vitori made short work of the tail with the innings
folding eight balls early when Rubel Hossain was run out. Sohrawardi
Shuvo, brought into the team in place of Robiul Islam, was left unbeaten
on 20.
"We surrendered wickets too easily but when I have taken the time to
settle down with them I expect rapid improvement," said Bangladesh coach
Stuart Law.
"They are a quality 50-overs side and that will come through."
Zimbabwe lost Taylor in the fifth over, bowled for 10 by left-arm
spinner Shakib.
Zimbabwe top order fares well
Any thoughts Bangladesh may have had, however, of slicing through the
Zimbabwe top order were thwarted by an intelligent partnership between
the experienced pair Sibanda and Mazakadza, who added 86 in 18 overs.
The partnership ended when Mazakadza was run out by Mahmudullah for
41 from 58 balls.
That was the start of a mid-innings wobble which also saw Tatendu
Taibu and Craig Ervine both removed by Rubel Hussain for ducks - Ervine
first ball.
At 124 for four, there was a danger that the innings might stumble to
a halt by Sibanda found another good partner in Forster Mutizwa.
They were 10 runs from victory when Sibanda, closing in on a second
ODI century, was caught off the splice by Mahmudullah off Hossain for
96.
It was his 14th half-century and included two sixes and eight fours.
Hossain also removed Chigumbura to finish with four for 26 but
Mutizwa's unbeaten 27 was enough to drag Zimbabwe across the line with
8.4 overs remaining.
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