Zimbabwe stretched their winning streak against Bangladesh to three matches by prevailing in a tense opening T20 International in Bulawayo.
Their impressive total of 168 for five was built on the back of a fine second-wicket stand of 74 between Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Maskadza, while their bowlers kept plugging away despite the Bangladeshi pair of Shakib Al Hasan and Shamsur Rahman putting on a substantial second-wicket stand of their own.
The deadlock between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh was finally broken in the third One-Day International in Bulawayo. After the Test series had been tied, and with the ODI series locked at one-all, Vusi Sibanda followed up a disciplined bowling effort from the home side with his second century to give them a rare series victory.
Vusi Sibanda and Sean Williams led Zimbabwe to a series-levelling victory in the second ODI against Bangladesh at Queen's Sports Club. Sibanda got Zimbabwe's pursuit of Bangladesh's 252 for nine off to a brisk start with 49 off 51 balls, while Sean Williams ensured there would be no late wobbles, ending on 78 off 75 balls, and adding an unbroken 86 with Malcolm Waller for the fifth-wicket.
Nasir Hossain scored a half-century and Ziaur Rahman took a five-wicket haul as Bangladesh thrashed Zimbabwe by 121 runs in the opening One-Day International in Bulawayo.
Hossain's 68 underpinned Bangladesh's score of 269 for eight and as Rahman returned figures of five for 30 in nine overs, Zimbabwe folded to be all out for just 148 in reply.
A spirited century from Hamilton Masakadza wasn't able to prevent Bangladesh from squaring the Test series against Zimbabwe on the final day in Harare. Ziaur Rahman took two of the wickets to fall during the day, with Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Sohag Gazi and Robiul Islam taking one each.
There can be only one winner of this week's Cricket World Player of the Week award. Zimbabwe's captain Brendan Taylor almost single-handedly led his side's batting in the Test win over Bangladesh in Harare, becoming the first Zimbabwe captain to score a century in each innings of a Test match.
Heading into this Test, if you were going to back either side to collapse for less than 150 in both innings then you would have gone for Zimbabwe. However, thanks to their captain Brendan Taylor, they have instead posted two good totals and then watched as the tourists imploded twice in less than 55 overs. This afternoon, Bangladesh managed 13 more than they did in their first innings, but still found themselves the vanquished team by a margin of 335 runs.
Zimbabwe have trimmed their squad to face Bangladesh in the upcoming Test, One-Day International and Twenty20 International series to 20 players.
The first Test begins on Wednesday (17th April) in Harare with three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals also scheduled.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a new playing condition for international cricket whereby a no ball will be called if a bowler breaks the stumps at the non-striker's end during the act of delivering the ball.
The playing condition has been implemented after the MCC decided to introduce a new law to the same effect from 1st October, advising the ICC to introduce the playing condition.
Zimbabwe's second innings was almost a carbon copy of their dismal first innings effort as they collapsed to defeat inside three days in Dominica.
A promising start from the openers, making the most of some wayward opening spells from the West Indians, was quickly squandered upon the introduction of spin as again they displayed a poor technique and played the sweep shot poorly against the bouncing ball.
Andy Waller has beaten off competition from Steve Mangongo and Grant Flower to succeed Alan Butcher as Zimbabwe's head coach according to the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper.
Zimbabwe's slim hopes of victory all but disappeared in the first over on day three as they lost captain Brendan Taylor for just six.
The remainder of the middle-order folded to Shane Shillingford, who ended with six for 49, and but for Craig Ervine, who was dropped twice, an innings defeat would have been the result. As it was, just two overs after an interestingly scheduled lunch interval, West Indies wrapped up a nine-wicket win.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalised Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme (TAPP) agreements with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).
The TAPP progamme has been designed to develop more competitive teams at the highest level of international cricket.
West Indies are keen to extend their winning run and make it five Test wins in a row when they take on Zimbabwe in the opening Test, which begins later today in Barbados.
The team is in confident mood after winning the three One-Day Internationals and both Twenty20 Internationals and go into the match as heavy favourites.
Hamilton Maakadza scored a century, Vusi Sibanda hit 80 and Graeme Cremer took seven wickets as Zimbabwe warmed up for their Test series in the West Indies by drawing with a Sagicor High Performance Centre team.
Masakadza made 112 in the Zimbabweans' first innings, Sibanda made a half-century in the second innings while Cremer returned seven for 79 as the home side were bowled out for 230.
West Indies have named a 13-man squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe, which gets underway on Tuesday (12th March) at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Opening batsman Chris Gayle returns to the squad having been rested for the Twenty20 and One-Day International series, while Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine are among those who miss out.
Bangladesh will tour Zimbabwe in April to play five limited overs internationals which will all be hosted at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
The opening match will be played on 13th April.
West Indies were briefly tested by Zimbabwe before emerging as comfortable winners of the second Twenty20 International at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Lendl Simons helped them survive a stuttering first half of their innings with a mature 41 off 39 balls, before Kieron Pollard provided the late momentum and, in conjunction with Darren Sammy, harvested 60 off the final five overs.
A change of scene didn't bring about any change in luck for Zimbabwe as they were handed their fourth straight defeat on their tour of the Caribbean. This time the West Indies, led by Lendl Simmons, and with supporting roles from Tino Best, Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine, triumphed by eight wickets in the first Twenty20 in Antigua.
The match was over almost before it had begun as Zimbabwe lost their three best batsmen inside the first five overs.
A cricket video for Cricket World TV about the latest cricket news as we look back at West Indies 3-0 One-Day International series win over Zimbabwe in Grenada.
There were some wonderful moments in the series including Darren Bravo's maiden ODI century, Dwayne Bravo takine six wickets in the second match and Ramnaresh Sarwan scoring a match-winning century in the second game.
