ZIM vs BAN: Shoriful, Tanzid help Bangladesh avoid whitewash with 7-wicket win in Harare

Bangladesh successfully avoided a whitewash with a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the third ODI against Zimbabwe on Saturday, July 11, at Harare Sports Club, Harare. After being asked to bat first, Zimbabwe were skittled for 199 in 48.1 overs after Wessly Madhevere (75 off 74) and Brad Evans (50 off 43) rescued their team from an early collapse.

Shoriful Islam was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh with a four-wicket haul, while Taskin Ahmed (2/32) and Tanvir Islam (2/37) also chipped in with two wickets each.

In reply, Bangladesh comfortably chased down the target in 36 overs, riding on a splendid innings from Tanzid Hasan Tamim, while Soumya Sarkar (69 off 82) also made a valuable contribution. As a result, Bangladesh saved themselves from a whitewash as Zimbabwe sealed the series 2-1. 

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Tanzid Hasan Tamim was adjudged Player of the Match for his magnificent innings. He scored 94 (101), with the help of eight fours and three sixes. The opening batter got involved in a massive 151-run opening stand off 166 balls, alongside Soumya Sarkar (69 off 82), which shifted the balance in Bangladesh’s favour.

On the other hand, Brad Evans was adjudged Player of the Series, having scored 111 runs and taken five wickets across three matches.

Turning Point

Zimbabwe got off to a disastrous start to their innings as Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed ran through their top order. They were reduced to 27/3 after 12.3 overs and couldn’t really recover from a collapse, eventually settling for a below-par score.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh):

The boys played really well. (On the series) Taskin and Shoriful bowled well and took responsibility. In the last two matches, things can happen, but we could only be better. (On the conditions) It was a tricky wicket that favored the bowlers. Our fast bowlers bowled really well, took responsibility and took wickets. All the three of them were very good. (On the opening partnership today) It was a great partnership. We discussed the first 10 overs, we said we'll not lose any wickets - the way Tamim and Soumya played was impressive. (On the key learnings) These were new conditions for us on a new ground and we learnt a lot. Moving forward, we will look to play according to the conditions.

Losing Captain, Richard Ngarava (Zimbabwe): 

(On winning series as a new captain) It's quite important to start at a high note, and I'm really quite happy about how we went about these two series. And, of course, the group is quite happy about it, which is pretty good. (On the performances) It's quite special because you sort of like get used to sort of the names which are always coming up with, so it's quite nice to have quite a few youngsters here pulling in and ensuring the team gets home. And it's always a good feeling, and hopefully our work will continue for a long time. (Were his team 100% in terms of planning) We haven't really managed to achieve some of the goals in the blueprint, and I don't think we got any closer to the blueprint. But, you know, winning despite that is always quite nice, and it tells how guys are positive in the dressing room. If you find, clearly, today's game where you managed to cover two departments, which is always a plus, but if you're able to cover all three departments on any day, you're winning a cricket game. So it's not really all about what we look at. But on the day, if anything happens, We're humans and we're really not going to be at 100% every day. But it's really nice to be coming out of this series the way we are, and it would have been nice to finish on a high. But, of course, here we are. (On Brad Evans's improved batting) I'll commend the support staff - I mean, Digger (Dion Ebrahim) and Stuie (Struart Matsikenyeri) are always getting around. They're always getting around from the dock and the masseuse player off their shoulders just to make sure Brad (Evans) is keeping up with plenty of balls. And I'm quite happy that it's coming off nicely.