Zimbabwe secured an unforgettable series victory at the
Harare Sports Club, pulling off a breathtaking 13-run win over Bangladesh in
the second One Day International. Heading into the clash with a 1-0 lead, the
hosts carried immense momentum after successfully defending a low total in the
opening match. This encounter served as a must-win for Bangladesh, who were
desperate to level the series and keep their tour alive, setting the stage for
a tense battle in Harare.
 |
| Image Credits: Cricinfo |
Batting first, Zimbabwe overcame a cautious start to finish
strongly at 247 for 6. Opener Ben Curran anchored the innings beautifully,
scoring a brilliant, unbeaten 111 runs. He found excellent lower-order support
from Brad Evans, who smashed a blistering 58 off just 38 balls in an unbroken
99-run partnership that propelled the hosts to a highly competitive total. For
Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed fought hard with the ball,
picking up two wickets apiece.
Bangladesh’s run chase appeared comfortable for the most
part, driven by a composed 116-run partnership between Tanzid Hasan, who scored
57, and Tawhid Hridoy, who top-scored with a gritty 60. However, Zimbabwe’s
bowling unit engineered an incredible late-game heist. Led by Richard Ngarava's
three-wicket haul and crucial breakthroughs from Evans and Blessing Muzarabani,
the hosts triggered a stunning collapse, bowling out the visitors for 234 in
the 49th over.
With this sensational comeback, Zimbabwe has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead, successfully clinching the three-match ODI series with one game to spare. The triumph marks back-to-back home ODI series wins over Bangladesh for the growing African nation. While Zimbabwe will look to complete a clean sweep in the final match, a deflated Bangladesh team will be playing purely for pride.
