Zimbabwe Defeat Bangladesh by 25 Runs to Take Lead in ODI Series
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
HARARE: Zimbabwe claimed a 25-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening One-Day International at Harare Sports Club, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Stand-in captain Richard Ngarava enjoyed a memorable outing on his ODI captaincy debut, contributing with both bat and ball. He scored 27 valuable runs before returning to take three wickets as Zimbabwe successfully defended a modest total.
After being asked to bat first, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 141 runs. Fast bowler Nahid Rana produced an outstanding spell for Bangladesh, claiming 6 wickets for 21 runs in 10 overs. His performance became the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh player in One-Day International cricket.
Despite Rana’s impressive effort, Bangladesh’s batting lineup struggled during the chase and was dismissed for 116 runs, falling 25 runs short of the target.
For Zimbabwe, Newman Nyamhuri top-scored with 33 runs, while Innocent Kaia added 26. A crucial eighth-wicket partnership between Nyamhuri and Ngarava helped the hosts post a competitive total after losing early wickets.
Bangladesh never built enough momentum during the chase. Nurul Hasan made 31 runs, Towhid Hridoy scored 25, and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed 10, but no batter was able to guide the visitors to victory.
Zimbabwe’s bowling attack shared the workload effectively. Richard Ngarava finished with 3 wickets for 31 runs, while Brad Evans also claimed three wickets. Newman Nyamhuri chipped in with two wickets to help seal the win.
The victory gives Zimbabwe a 1-0 advantage in the three-match ODI series. The second match is scheduled for Thursday, where the home side will have the opportunity to secure the series, while Bangladesh will aim to level the contest before the final ODI on Saturday.
