Shakib finds his batting form

The old adage "when it rains, it pours" fit Shakib Al Hasan almost perfectly as the star all-rounder not only returned to form with the bat, but ensured Bangladesh clinch the three-match ODI series after hitting an unbeaten 96 to script a three-wicket win in the second ODI in Harare yesterday.

Zimbabwe fought till the last over in defence of a 241-run target, but Shakib stood tall and added an unbeaten match-winning partnership of 69 runs for the eighth wicket with Mohammad Saifuddin.

The experienced left-hander credited Saifuddin, who was not out for a 34-ball 28 and had shown a good deal of composure in the chase. Shakib added that the pitch was not easy to bat on compared to the track in the first game, which forced batsmen to take chances, sometimes at the cost of their wicket.

"Today I had to put my hands up. Very happy. A lot of credit to Saifuddin, he showed a lot of composure. Today the wicket was slower. If the bowlers were bowling straight into the wicket, you had to take chances, which is where we lost wickets," Shakib said during the post-match press conference.

Bangladesh lost skipper Tamim on 20 while Liton Das, coming off a century in the first game, fell for 21. With both openers gone, Shakib attempted to take responsibility as wickets continued to fall at the other end.

Mushfiqur Rahim's absence in the middle order was sorely felt, with Mohammad Mithun failing to make an impact and walking back after scoring two. Mosaddek Hossain's run out shortly after left the Tigers struggling on 74 for four in 18 overs.

Mahmudullah Riyad then joined Shakib and the duo added 55 for the fifth wicket before the former departed for 26 and Shakib notched his 49th half-century. However, the situation required the champion cricketer to stay on till the end and the pressure began to mount to keep the run-rate within reach after Mehedi Hasan Miraz (6) and Afif Hossain (15) were unable to provide support.

But Shakib found a stable partner in Saifuddin and managed to guide the team over the line, playing 109 balls and smashing eight of them for four en route his 96.

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor was his usual swashbuckling self, making 46 off 57 balls, but his innings came to a bizarre ‘hit wicket’ end as he swung his bat casually at a delivery from the most impressive Bangladesh bowler, Shoriful Islam (4-46), and it clipped the stump. His hit-wicket dismissal appeared to fall into a grey area in the laws of the game. The decision went up to the third umpire, and Taylor walked off looking miffed when the red light came on. PHOTO: TWITTER