Chigumbura Shines As Zimbabwe Win Opening ODI

Chigumbura Shines As Zimbabwe Win Opening ODI

Elton Chigumbura was in fine form for Zimbabwe in Mirpur.

©REUTERS/Andrew Biraj (BANGLADESH) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Zimbabwe 189-5 (Chigumbura 60no, Abdur Razzak 3-36) beat
Bangladesh 186 (Mushfiqur Rahim 56, Chigumbura 3-27) by five wickets
Scorecard
First One-Day International, Mirpur

Elton Chigumbura took three wickets and scored an unbeaten 60 to guide Zimbabwe to a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the opening One-Day International in Mirpur.

Chigumbura's three for 27 helped Zimbabwe bowl Bangladesh out for 186 and he then combined to put on 99 with Stuart Matsikenyeri for the unbroken sixth wicket to seal victory with more than 15 overs to spare.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak marked his return to international cricket with three wickets in five balls as he dismissed Justice Chibhaba (26), Brendan Taylor (0) and Tatenda Taibu (0) to raise Bangladesh hopes as Zimbabwe were reduced to 39 for three in their run chase but they survived.

Hamilton Masakadza made ten and Charles Coventry 32 but after Rubel Hossain and Dolar Mahmud had got them out, Bangladesh were unable to pick up another wicket as Chigumbura, who hit nine fours and a six in his 50-ball innings, and Matsikenyeri, who was unbeaten on 47 in 55 deliveries, saw their side to victory.

Bangladesh's innings lasted 46.5 overs after they were put in by Zimbabwe and but for a half-century from Mushfiqur Rahim and some lusty blows from Mahmud, they were in danger of being humiliated.

Rahim stroked 56, sharing half-century stands with Naeem Islam (21) and Mahmud, who smashed 41 in 30 balls with four fours and three sixes as Bangladesh rallied from being reduced to 62 for six to at least make a game of it.

Chigumbura, opening the bowling alongside Kyle Jarvis, struck early to remove Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique and Mohammad Ashraful before two wickets apiece for Chibhaba and Jarvis put Bangladesh on the back foot.

After Rahim, Islam and Mahmud hit back, spinners Ray Price and Graeme Cremer picked off a wicket each before Rahim's 78-ball effort was ended when Jarvis had him caught by Taibu.

The second match in the five-game series is on Thursday 29th October.

© Cricket World 2009

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