Bangladesh Vs Zimbabwe ODI Series 3rd Match Played on 6 March 2020 at SNCS
Brief Scorecard :
Bangladesh 322/3 in 43 Overs( Liton K Das 176 , Tamim Iqbal 126* ) beat Zimbabwe 218 All Out (Sikandar Raza 61, W Madivhere 42, SC Williams 30, Mohammad Saifuddin 4/41, Taijul Islam 2/38, Mashrafe 1/47) by 123 runs.
Bangladesh won the Series :3-0
Player of The Match : Liton K Das
Player of The Series : Tamim Iqbal and Liton K Das.
Team Bangladesh rewrote few pages of the record book as they played and achieved yet another comprehensive series white wash against Zimbabwe in the rain curtailed third and final match of the ODI series winning by 123 runs.
Mashrafee won his 50th ODI as captain a very rare achievement. The team , BCB and thousands present at Sylhet Cricket stadium gave the greatest ever cricket captain Mashrafee Bin Murtaza a hearty send off . The engine of “ Narail Express “ finally put its brake in the holy city of 360 saints. Mashrafee would conitine as a player though his fitness permitting. Unfortunately his two long time playmates Shakib Al Hasan ( serving iCC suspension term) and Mushfiqur Rahim ( for whims of team management) could not play the last international that their favorite friend , philosopher and guide permitted . Zimbabwean Captain SC Williams won the toss and for reasons best known to him opted to field. Bangladesh opener terrific Tamim and flamboyant Liton toying with visiting bowlers set up enviable milestone 292 runs in the first wicket partnership. Rain interrupted at 32.3 over of Bangladesh Innings and took away 7 overs from the match . Bangladesh scored 322/3 . Liton went on scoring 176 , the highest ever by a Bangladeshi batsman eclipsing his experienced partner Tamim Iqbal’s record 158 scored in the second match of the present series . Tamim himself remained not out on 126 h, his second century and back to back. Bangladesh bowlers then in a team effort bundled the tourists for 218 all out. Rapidly uncoiling Mohammad Saifuddin taking 4/41 was the peak of the pack. Taijul took 2/38. Team Bangladesh made the last match under leadership of their “ Mashrafee Bhai” a great finale.
The series win was done and dusted. Final match of a dead rubber did not require experiment. Moreover, in the last match of great Mashrafee as captain there was no point resting automatic choice of the team, the best technically equipped batsman and long time associate Mushfique in the match. There was other opitions for trying Affif resting Mehedy Miraj or even Taijul Islam . In the ultimate analysis neither Naim nor Afiff had to do much. But by doing so BCB selectors demonstrated arrogance and ego of someone was served hurting Mushfique.
Tamim returned to his prolific best in the second ODI . He started where he left off. Liton scored a punishing century in match one. In the second he was unfortunately run out. The two started blazing right from the start . It was an exhibition of scintillating stroke play. Younger Liton was the main aggressor . Tamim was also not lagging behind . The two kept on scoring boundaries and over boundaries at will as thousands of holiday ground from all over Bangladesh crowded at the stadium with banners and festoons for giving a hearty send off to their charismatic captain. Nature even started crying and rain came in torrent after 32nd over of Bangladesh Innings . Fortunately it was stopped after a while and only 7 overs were curtailed. If the match went to complete 50 overs who knows Bangladesh could have registered its highest oDI score very close to 400 . But even then Liton’s 176 became the highest individual innings for Bangladesh in ODI, Tamim Liton first wicket partnership of 292 set the new record of Bangladesh for any wicket in ODI . Striking 16 fours and 8 sixes Liton became the highest boundary hitter in an ODI innings for Bangladesh .
After such battering in such an historic match Zimbabwe could do very little as team Bangladesh left nothing unturned to make Mashrafee special match memorable. The great man got a wicket in his very first over. Mohammad Saifudin returning after resting the second match bowled with his hearts out. The team moved in the field like a herd of hungry leopards hunting the prey. Sikandar Raza ( 61) , Madhvere (42), Chakava (34), and Sc Williams ( 30) tried to resist but that was too little to worry Bangladesh . Zimabawe was all out 218 . Bangladesh won huge and handsome by 123 runs achieving yet another series white wash. Mashrafee won 50th ODI as captain of Bangladesh.
In this milestone match Mushfique should definitely have played. Whether a player plays in a particular series or not for personal reason that is his own prerogative . But for that none should have any ego to put a great player under mental suffering. Some day some one will realize that depriving Mushfique appearing with his friend and captain in the historic match is a great injustice.
The teams would now play in two matches ODI series . Mahmudullah will laed the side . Team will require significant contribution from all specially Mushfique.
Bangladesh then will have to prepare for Pakistan tour. Given the world wide Corona Virus epidemic who knows what will be the fate of the series .
It was great watching Mashrafee signed off in a great fashion. His team gave him all he so richly deserved. Hope Narail Express , the favorite Kowshik from the back of Chitra River will continue illuminating many for years to come whatever he choses to do off the field.
BDST: 0140 HRS, MAR 07, 2020
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