Zimbabwe fight back

Heath Streak was the star as Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 14 runs to level the Series with 1 match to go.

The Captain won the toss and elected to bat, but buoyed by their win of 2 days ago, the Bangladeshi attack were in inspired form. Tareq Aziz struck in the first over to remove Mark Vermeulen, and that set the scene for 3 more wickets to fall before the 10th over was up.

Only Barney Rogers of the top order stood firm until Sean Ervine came in at 6, and they steadied the innings until Mohammad Rafique struck, as Rogers was stumped, and it was 79-5 in the 21st over when Streak came out to bat.

Streak and Ervine batted well, and put on 76 runs at a steady rate to turn the innings round, and when Ervine was dismissed for a well-made 50 from 85 balls, the pace was upped by first Dion Ebrahim (33 from 35 balls) and then Andy Blignaut with a super cameo of 28 from 17 balls as 30 runs came from the last 4 overs to allow Zimbabwe to post a creditable 242-8 considering their poor start.

Streak had scored a vital 45, and then he followed it up with a great opening spell, picking up 3 wickets for 9 runs in an 18 ball spell that reduced Bangladesh to 40-3 after 13 overs.

When Rajin Saleh fell to Gary Brent in the 20th over, Zimbabwe were well on top, but the loss of Blignaut to an injury meant that some overs would be needed to be filled in by lesser bowlers and that brought Bangladesh slightly back into the game as the middle order Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahman and Khaled Mashud lifted the score to 167-5 at one point before Rahman fell for 49

Former captain Khaled Mahmud was dismissed 5 balls later, both of them to catches by Ebrahim, and the target looked out of reach, but Rafique chanced his arm and blasted 26 from 18 balls before Streak struck again, this time in the field, running the spinner out.

To complete his day, he then came on and bowled Tapash Baisya for a duck and the last pair never threatened to score the 32 required from 24 balls, being dismissed for 228 with 4 balls left.

ZIMBABWE 242-8 Ervine 50(85), Streak 45(72), Ebrahim 33(35), Baiysa 3-45(10)
BANGLADESH 228a/o Rahman 49(70), Mashud 41(51), Ashraful 31(38), Streak 4-30(10)

Posted by Marc