Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 101 runs in battle of minnows

Jaipur, Oct 13 (UNI) Riding on Shahriar Nafees' unbeaten knock of 123 -- highest ODI score by any Bangladesh batsman -- Habibul Bashar's team beat Zimbabwe by 101 runs to win the battle of the minnows in the fifth ICC Champions Trophy qualifier at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here tonight.

Chasing a victory target of 232, Zimbabwe lost wickets at regular intervals and without any significant partnership to prop up the innings, the folded for a mere 130 runs in just 44.4 overs.

Mashrafe Mortaza dealt the first blow when he trapped Chamunorwa Chibhaba (16) and that triggered a batting collapse from which the African team just could not recover.

The other opener, Brendan Taylor, was the only and lonly face of Zimbabwean resistance but his 74-ball knock of 52, which included seven fours, was just too little to avert the disaster. And he didn't help his case either by stepping out to charge Khaled Mashud and return stumped.

The Bangla bowlers did a decent job, never relaxing their grip.

Saqibul Hasan was pick of the Bangla bowlers, claiming three wickets, conceding just 18 runs in his 10 overs.

Earlier, Shahriar Nafees (123 not out) recorded the highest score by a Bangladesh batsman and became the first Bangla batsman to have two ODI tons against his name, contributing more than half the team total of 231 for six.

Shahriar survived a shaky start in the beginning and cramps towards the end but went on to play an invaluable 161-ball unbeaten knock that included 17 boundries besides a six.

Put into bat, Bangladesh were soon reduced to 26 for two before Shahariar and Saqibul Islam stemmed the rot.

Zimbabwe tasted blood when Ed Rainsford trapped Saleh (6) and Brendon Taylor then took a superb catch behind the stumps to return Aftab Ahmed (3), who had slammed 59 against the West Indies, off Anthony Ireland.

The Shahriar-Saqibul duo steadied the ship even though runs dried up with Zimbabwe fielders showing enough agility.

Shahriar survived a dropped chance and a close leg before appeal before unleashing couple of crisp drives to get into the groove, while it was the same story with wristy Saqibul who also survived tense moments before growing in confidence.

Saqibul's departure after a timely 37-run knock, part of a crucial 84-run third wicket partnership, had little effect on Shahriar. Shahriar found an able partner in skipper Habibul Basher (30), who finally avoided a hattrick of ducks and added 80 runs to the team cause before Rainsford got the better of his defence.

Zimbabwe grabbed two more quick wickets but Shahriar was unmoved and he carried his bat through to guide his side to a decent total.

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