Questions remain
Bangladesh maintained their supremacy over Zimbabwe as they came from behind to seal the five-match series 4-1 thanks to their slow bowlers who played the key role behind the success.
It Is also evident from the statistics that Zimbabwe batsmen are yet to come to term negotiating Bangladesh spinners as they captured 37 wickets in five matches. Experienced left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak made a brilliant comeback to the Tigers fold, who missed the last series against the same opponents through injury, by taking 15 wickets in 5 matches. He got good support from captain Shakib Al Hasan, the second best wicket-taker in the series with seven wickets, and third best wicket-taker Enamul Haque who ended with 6 wickets in three matches.
Playing without their leading paceman Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and experienced left-arm seamer Syed Rasel, Bangladesh attack with the new ball was found wanting in the first two games which led to them opting for only one pacer in the remaining matches. This decision, coupled with the fact that the selectors had taken four pacers in the squad, raised a few eyebrows.
Nazmul Hossain tried his best to utilise the new ball and took five wickets in four matches and he also got the man-of-the-match award in the low-scoring fourth game where the visitors were dismissed for 44 runs to ignite criticism over the track at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium.
As in the previous two successful tours in West Indies and Zimbabwe, Tigers' young skipper Shakib led the team from the front and his splendid hundred in the second match produced real entertainment for the crowd. The number one all-rounder in one-day ranking was also the highest scorer in the series with 143 runs at an average of 71.50.
The point of concern however remains with the Tigers batting, especially top order who hardly showed consistency in the series. It was a great opportunity for the batsmen to tune up well ahead of the tough challenge against India and Sri Lanka in the tri-nation one-day tournament at home in January next year but they made same mistakes for which they are always blamed.
And that prompted Shakib Al Hasan to hope that his top order batsmen rectify their mistakes during the Premier League, so that they can compete well in the next international assignment.
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