Zimbabwe edge past Bangladesh in second ODI to secure unassailable series lead

HARARE: Ben Curran's unbeaten century, followed by a collective bowling effort, helped Zimbabwe down Bangladesh by 13 runs in the second ODI of the three-match home series here at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

The victory meant Zimbabwe now secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series as they clinched the opening fixture by 25 runs at the same venue, which will also host the remaining ODI on Saturday.

Put into bat first, the home side piled up a formidable total of 247/6 in their 50 overs on the back of left-handed opener Ben Curran's unbeaten century.

Curran oversaw the entirety of Zimbabwe's innings as he carried his bat all the way through and returned after top-scoring with an unbeaten 111 off 135 deliveries, studded with nine fours, which earned him the Player of the Match award.

He also shared an important 68-run partnership for the fifth wicket with experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza (33) and followed it up with an unbeaten 99-run stand for the seventh wicket with Brad Evans, who contributed with an unbeaten half-century, making a quickfire 39-ball 58, laced with seven fours and two sixes.

Set to chase a 248-run target, Bangladesh could muster 234 before getting bowled out in 48.1 overs despite half-centuries from Tanzid Hasan and Towhid Hridoy.

Bangladesh got off to a shaky start to the pursuit as they lost two wickets inside the batting powerplay with just 38 runs but were stabilised by Hasan and Hridoy as the duo put together an anchoring 84-run partnership for the third wicket.

Brian Bennett eventually broke the threatening partnership in the 27th over by dismissing Hassan, who made 57 off 70 deliveries with the help of five fours and a six.

Hridoy then shared a crucial 49-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Nurul Hasan until eventually falling victim to Wessly Madhevere in the 37th over. He walked back after top-scoring for Bangladesh with a 90-ball 60, comprising five fours.

Bangladesh lost another wicket in the next over as Musaddek Hossain (seven) was sent back by Richard Ngarava, and thus slipped to 176/5.

Following the back-to-back dismissals, captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (27) joined the Nurul Hasan (38) in the middle, and the duo kept Bangladesh on track to chase down the 248-run target by putting a 31-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

But Nurul Hasan's dismissal in the 42nd over sparked a lower-order collapse, which saw Bangladesh lose their remaining four wickets, including that of their captain Miraz, for just 27 runs in 42 deliveries and were thus bowled out for a modest 234.

Ngarava was the standout bowler for the Chevrons as he picked up three wickets for 55 runs in his 9.1 overs, followed by Blessing Muzarabani and Evans with two each, while Raza, Bennett and Madhevere chipped in with one scalp apiece.