Bangladesh 281/7 [Shakib Al Hasan 101, Mushfiqur Rahman 65, Sabbir Rahman 44*, Mominul Haque 31, T Panyangara 3/66] beat Zimbabwe 194 All Out [BRM Taylor 54, H Masakadza 42, Shakib 4/41, Arafat Sunny 2/22, Mashrafe 2/33, Mahmudullah 2/44]
Super Shakib again inspired Bangladesh with his brilliant all-round performance in making Bangladesh win its first ODI international in 2014.
Bangladesh under new team leadership of Mashrafe and Shakib out gunned the tourist by 87 runs in the first of the five matches ODI series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium at Chittagong. Shakib scoring 101 and taking 4/44 joined another exclusive club of a dozen achieving the rare feet in ODI cricket.
Hungry for success Shakib proving few points and changing the dynamics of Bangladesh cricket match after match. Bangladesh had an auspicious start under Mashrafe who also with ball looked penetrative.
Zimbabwe created some early pressure reducing Bangladesh to 4/70 by the 20th over but a well-paced 5th wicket partnership between sizzling Shakib and majestic Mushfiqur paved the way for challenging score of 281/7.
Zimabawae looked pathetic in the field and could not take its chances which, if taken, could have changed the fate of the match. Shakib scored his 6th ODI century after four years and Mushfiqur chanced his arm with 65. The innings was boosted by a 25 ball 44 by debutant Sabbir Rahman studded with 3 fours and 3 sixes.
While chasing, the visitors started aggressively against Bangladeshi seamers. But as soon as Mashrafe switched to his spinners same old pathetic spineless batting was in view. Bangladeshi spinners stifled the tourists. They had no answer to guiles of Shakib, Sunny and Mahamudullah. The three among them in 29.1 overs grabbed 8 wickets giving away only 103 runs.
Mashrafe also chipped in with two important wickets of Taylor and Chigumbura. The visitors could never really challenge the host excepting the top order wobble of Bangladesh batsmen.
The teams will move to Dhaka for the concluding part of the series after the next match that will be played on the same venue on Sunday.
By the look of it Bangladesh appears to have been back on winning track. Visitors will require improving in all departments significantly to cause any worry for the hosts.
Tigers were shaping up to a force to reckon with in ODI at home white washing New Zealand twice, winning against Sri Lanka, India at home. Teams were making plans how to win against Bangladesh in Bangladesh at ODI. But suddenly their performance slumped on a diminishing return.
In 2014 Bangladesh kept on losing in all formats of the game. Many key players were going through prolonged lean patch. Some controversies muddled up matters. BCB in desperate planning took a decision of relieving overburdened Mushfiqur a little making Mashrafe the leader for ODI team and making Shakib his deputy.
Inspired Mashrafe is a blessing for Bangladesh whenever he plays for Bangladesh. He loves to lead from the front and encourages his mates all the time.
It is good to see the tigers back on winning spree. The train was derailed and now with fresh engines requires oiling all machines before they eventually go for ICC world Cup.
Looking back to the game Bangladesh must critically assess few areas like new ball attack, top order batting and fielding. There are ample scopes of improving. Sabbir looks a good addition. If he can continue to deliver a late order batting issue and death over batting problem may be solved. Bangladesh may review the batting order. Shakib and Mushfiqur must bat at four and five as they are the two better batsmen and are in form.
BDST: 0905 HRS, NOV 22, 2014
