Zimbabwe set Tigers to chase challenging 287 to win

Bangladesh have to chase a mammoth target of 287 runs to win against visiting Zimbabwe in the third and final ODI of the series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Friday.

To escape from a sweep in the series, Zimbabwe will have to defend a score of 286 for 5 in 50 overs spurred by unbeaten Sean Williams’s century of 129* alongside sharing a innings-shaping partnership of 136 off 24 overs with Brendon Taylor in the third wicket after an early loss of 6 for 2 in 2.4 overs. 

Spinner Nazmul Islam removed an appealingly a formidable third partnership by dismissing Brendon Taylor who hit 75 off 72 balls featuring eight boundaries and three six before being caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim on 138/3 in 26.4 overs.

After the dismissal of Taylor, Sean Williams continued till the end, firing 10 boundaries and one six in his innings of 143 balls, and shared 84 off 15.3 overs and a quick 62 off 7.1 overs in the next two partnership stands with Sikandar Raza [40 off 51b; 2x4; 1x6] and Peter Moor [28 off 21b; 2x6].

It was a bright start from the hosts in the third ODI as pace bowler Mohammed Saifuddin bowled out Cephas Zhuwao for duck in his third delivery of the inning’s second over for Bangladesh’s first breakthrough before left-handed pacer Abu Hider Rony bowled out opener-cum-skipper Hamilton Masakadza just after a six-ball gap, keeping the visitors on the same collection in 2.4 overs.

Nazmul Islam got two wickets for 58 runs in eight overs while Abu Hider [1/39] and Saifuddin [1/51] equally shared two wickets for Bangladesh.

Source: unb