Sikandar Raza‘s second successive unbeaten century and captain Regis Chakabva‘s 102 off just 75 balls fired Zimbabwe to a five-wicket win over Bangladesh to complete their first ODI series win against a major team in five years. Raza had earlier taken 3 for 56 to help restrict the visitors to 290-9 after a blistering start, and his calculated approach in the chase, punctuated by breathtaking shots, gave a full house at the Harare Sports Club a Sunday to remember.
Two days after his 192-run fourth-wicket stand with Innocent Kaia had taken Zimbabwe to a five-wicket win in the first ODI, Raza had the company of Chakabva while scripting another challenging chase. Chakabva made his maiden ODI hundred, which, coming up in just 73 balls, was the fastest by a Zimbabwe batter in ODIs. Coming together at a precarious 49 for 4, Raza and Chakabva added 201 for the fifth wicket, off just 189 balls. It was only the third 200-plus stand in Zimbabwe’s ODI history, and their highest for the fifth wicket. Raza has now been involved in two of the three 200-plus stands.
The end came swiftly even though Chakabva fell with Zimbabwe still needing 41 to win. But debutant Tony Munyonga, after a nervous start, cracked Shoriful Islam for a four and two sixes in the 47th over, after Taskin Ahmed dropped him at the start of the over. The over ended with Munyonga dropped once again, at point.
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