Bangladesh set 248-run target to save ODI series

Bangladesh will have to put up their best batting display of the tour to save the second ODI and the three-match series on Thursday, after opener Ben Curran’s unbeaten ton and a quickfire half-century from Brad Evans powered Zimbabwe to 247-6 in their 50 overs in Harare.

Curran, who carried his bat through the innings, remained unbeaten on 111 off 135 balls while Evans hit a 38-ball 58 – his maiden fifty in ODIs – as Zimbabwe recovered from 66-4 to post a decent total after being put into bat first.

The duo, who got together in the 37th over with the score on 148-6, added 99 runs off 79 deliveries for the seventh wicket.

Out of the Bangladesh bowlers, skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed picked up a couple of wickets each.

Bangladesh are yet to win a match in the ongoing Zimbabwe tour, having lost the one-off Test by an innings and 85 runs and the first ODI by 25 runs.

If the Tigers fail to chase the total, they will suffer their second consecutive ODI series defeat to Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, having lost 2-1 in their previous trip to the African country in 2022.