Bangladesh suffer 13-run defeat to concede ODI series to Zimbabwe

Half-centuries from Tawhid Hridoy and Tanzid Hasan Tamim went in vain as Bangladesh suffered a 13-run defeat to Zimbabwe in the second ODI, handing the hosts a 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Chasing 248, Hridoy struck 60 off 90 balls while Tanzid made 57 from 70 deliveries to put Bangladesh in a strong position. Nurul Hasan Sohan added a valuable 38, but after he fell to captain Richard Ngarava (3-55).

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The visitors lost their last four wickets for just 15 runs and were bowled out for 234 in 48.1 overs.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed 27 from No. 7, but his dismissal to Ngarava in the penultimate over ended Bangladesh's hopes as Zimbabwe sealed their second successive ODI series victory over the Tigers, having also won the 2022 series 2-1.

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'Little disappointed in our batting unit': Miraz rues Tigers' ODI opener defeat against Zimbabwe

Earlier, Zimbabwe were reeling at 148 for six in the 37th over after being sent in to bat, but opener Ben Curran produced an unbeaten 111 off 135 balls while Brad Evans blasted a career-best 58 not out from just 38 deliveries. The pair shared an unbroken 99-run partnership from 79 balls to lift Zimbabwe to 247 for six.

Curran's innings featured nine boundaries, while Evans struck two fours and five sixes, including three sixes and a four in Taskin Ahmed's final over.

Taskin had given Bangladesh the ideal start by dismissing Brian Bennett for a duck and Innocent Kaia for four in his opening two overs before Nahid Rana removed Craig Ervine for nine.

Miraz then dismissed Wessly Madhevere for 15 to reduce Zimbabwe to 66 for four. Curran steadied the innings with a 68-run fifth-wicket stand alongside Sikandar Raza, who made 33.

Miraz and Rishad Hossain claimed a wicket each to leave Zimbabwe on 148 for six, but Curran's second ODI century and Evans' late onslaught ensured the hosts posted a competitive total.

In reply, Bangladesh lost Soumya Sarkar (5) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (9) early to slip to 38 for two before Tanzid and Hridoy added 84 runs for the third wicket.

Tanzid brought up his eighth ODI half-century before departing, while Hridoy and Nurul added another useful 47 runs for the fourth wicket. However, after Hridoy's dismissal, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals and failed to bat out their allotted 50 overs.

Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans claimed two wickets apiece to complement Ngarava's three-wicket haul.

Bangladesh had earlier lost the opening ODI by 25 runs. The third and final ODI, now a dead rubber, will be played at the same venue on Saturday.