Bangladesh were bowled out for 172 in 33.4 overs chasing 272, handing Zimbabwe a 99-run win in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
It was Bangladesh’s third defeat in their last four ODIs against Zimbabwe.
The chase began brightly. Bangladesh scored 16 in the first two overs and reached 48 for one in seven, but Soumya Sarkar fell for nine off 17 balls, caught off Blessing Muzarabani, and the momentum quickly drained away.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim then survived an lbw review off Newman Nyamhuri on umpire’s call, and was reprieved when Muzarabani misjudged a catch at third man. He failed to make the most of it, skying the next ball to Ryan Burl at point.
Najmul Hossain Shanto followed, lbw to Brad Evans, leaving Bangladesh 71 for three after 11 overs. Captain Towhid Hridoy fell for 13 off 21 balls when Sikandar Raza won an lbw review after the umpire had turned down the appeal.
At 104 for four after 17.4 overs, the chase never recovered. Mosaddek Hossain was lbw to Wellington Masakadza, leaving Bangladesh 113 for five, and Saif Hassan, who had settled and looked the last real hope, was gone by the 24th over at 123 for six.
Evans struck with the first ball of his return spell to remove wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan for five off eight. Shoriful Islam then heaved a short ball to Brian Bennett at deep midwicket and went for a duck, leaving Bangladesh 129 for eight after 28 overs.
Rishad Hossain briefly threatened a fightback, hitting four fours in an over from Nyamhuri. He fell first ball after Raza returned, pulling a full delivery to Masakadza at long-on for 23, which ended a 32-run stand off 26 balls.
Evans finished the job, taking a return catch off Mustafizur Rahman, who made six from six balls including a six. Taskin Ahmed was unbeaten on 16 from 13 balls with three fours, one of the few bright moments in a heavy defeat.
Earlier, Bangladesh had been put into the field after losing the toss, with Hridoy leading in place of the injured Litton Das. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was absent through illness, so the side used three pacers and two frontline spinners, with Sohan keeping wicket.
Zimbabwe recovered from 30 for three in the powerplay to post 271 for eight, after Taskin Ahmed’s early wickets gave Bangladesh a promising start. Craig Ervine made 93 and Brendan Taylor 81, adding 150 off 176 balls for the fourth wicket.
Taylor also passed Andy Flower’s 6,786 runs to become Zimbabwe’s highest ODI run-scorer, a record that had stood for almost 23 years. Wellington Masakadza and Nyamhuri added 36 in the last four overs, and Nyamhuri took 20 off the last two.
For Bangladesh, Taskin took three for 44, Shoriful Islam two and Saif Hassan two for 17 in a brief spell, while Rishad Hossain took one. Bangladesh next face Afghanistan on October 21.