Batting woes waste Rana’s record-breaking performance

A woeful batting display overshadowed a record-breaking bowling performance from Nahid Rana as Bangladesh suffered a 25-run defeat to Zimbabwe in the low-scoring first ODI of the three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Monday.

Opting to bowl first, Bangladesh pace sensation Nahid Rana produced the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi in ODI history, ripping through Zimbabwe's batting lineup with remarkable figures of 6 for 21 to bowl the hosts out for just 141 in 36.4 overs.

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Rana claimed his five-wicket haul for just 12 runs in his sixth over as Zimbabwe slumped to 70 for 8 inside 20 overs. He had to wait until his ninth over to claim his sixth wicket, surpassing Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's previous Bangladesh record of 6 for 26 against Kenya in Nairobi in 2006.

However, Bangladesh's batters failed to capitalize on Rana's heroics, losing their top three wickets for just 17 runs inside the first five overs.

Tawhid Hridoy (25) and Nurul Hasan Sohan (31) steadied the innings with a 49-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but Hridoy's dismissal to pacer Newman Nyamhuri triggered another collapse.

Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (10) was the only other Bangladesh batter to reach double figures as the visitors were bowled out for 116 in 33.1 overs, handing Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the series.

All 10 Bangladesh wickets fell to Zimbabwe's pace attack. Captain Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans claimed three wickets apiece, while Blessing Muzarabani and Nyamhuri picked up two each.

Earlier, Zimbabwe made a steady start in the Powerplay before Ben Curran (18) was run out through a sharp piece of fielding from captain Miraz. Brian Bennett (17) and Craig Ervine (0) then fell to Taskin Ahmed before Rana took control after coming into the attack in the 10th over.

He struck for the first time in his third over when Sikandar Raza (one) edged behind while attempting to carve a short-pitched delivery over point. Wessly Madhevere (0) followed in the next over, edging another rising delivery to second slip where Najmul Hossain Shanto completed the catch.

Clive Madande (two) then miscued a delivery straight to point to become Rana's third victim before the pacer produced a double-wicket over, dismissing Innocent Kaia (26) and Brad Evans (three) to complete his five-wicket haul.

Lower-order batters Nyamhuri (33) and captain Ngarava (27) added valuable runs to take Zimbabwe past the 100-run mark before Ngarava became Rana's sixth victim. Nyamhuri was the last man dismissed, falling to Miraz.

The second ODI will be played at the same venue on Thursday.