BD A lose opener by 17
Zimbabwe A won their first match of the tour yesterday when they beat hosts Bangladesh A by 17 runs at Fatullah in the first of three one-dayers.
A century from Regis Chakabva helped the visitors finish on 253 for 6. In reply, the hosts were bowled out for 236 runs in 49.3 overs.
In a match which saw Abul Hasan's return to competitive cricket turn sour -- he suffered from a muscle strain in his back and was taken off the attack after bowling 2.5 overs – Bangladesh's bowling suffered.
With Hasan out of the picture, captain Marshall Ayub had to employ the likes of Mominul Haque and Mosaddek Hossain to complete the paceman's quota.
Zimbabwe's openers began well and shared a half-century stand. With the specialist bowlers failing to get the required breakthrough, Marshall turned to Mominul, who removed Brian Chari for 35 in the 18th over. On the very next ball, he bowled Joylord Gumbie and all of a sudden the visitors found themselves in a precarious 83 for 2. However, despite the quick wickets, Chakabva kept his cool and scored his first List A century. A balanced knock, Chakabva hit 132 runs off 144 deliveries with 13 fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of 91.67.
While he drove freely against the pacers, he ensured to get the maximums against the Bangladeshi spinners, who had given the visitors a tough time in the two four-day matches.
Bangladesh's chase began in the worst possible way with the hosts' top-order stumbling to 33 for 3. Shahriar Nafees and Marshall were bowled while Mominul was caught in the eleventh over. Naeem Islam and Soumya Sarker shared a half-century stand to bring the hosts back in the game. However, Soumya departed in the 27th over after scoring 56. Another half-century partnership followed, this time between Naeem and the young Mosaddek. At 155 for 4 in 38 overs, Bangladesh A were still in it, however, Naeem became Tafadza Kamungodzi's third victim in the 39th over and that's when things began to fall apart. Nurul Hasan departed in the same over pushing the hosts into deeper waters.
A 30-ball 42 from Elias Sunny at number 8 provided some hope, but unfortunately the departure of both Elias and Mosaddek towards the end left the hosts 17 runs short.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ZIMBABWE A: 253 for 6 (Regis 132,Sibanda 52;Mominul 2-47, Zubaer 2-53)
BANGLADESH A: 236 all out in 49.3 overs (Naeem 66, Soumya 56; Kamungozi 4-24)
Result: Zimbabwe A won by 17 runs.
Player-of-the-match: Regis Chakabva.
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