Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigum-bura always believed they were going to win the first one-day international against Bangladesh despite the game was hanging in the balance for most of the period.
Zimbabwe won the match by nine runs but not before Sakib al Hasan gave them a scare with a brilliant half-century. Sakib was out at a time when Bangladesh needed 15 runs with the last wicket pair at the crease, but Zimbabwe successfully managed to stave them off from sailing home.
‘As soon as we went into the field, I believed this was going to be our day,’ Chigumbura said.
‘When you put a total like 209 runs on the board you must have to have faith in your team, otherwise you cannot win. We are a bit short but the credit goes to the bowlers,’ said Chigumbura.
‘We knew if we can put pressure on Bangladesh, we can make it. It’s a big positive for the team’s morale boost, it shows that we can win as it will raise our confidence in the rest of the series,’ he said.
Man of the match Chris Mpofu, who claimed three vital wickets of Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Sakib al Hasan with his gentle medium pace and conceded just 25 runs, was over the moon having been able to apply his trick on a pitch that supposedly helped only the spinners.
‘We had different approach to different condition. We knew if we could mix pace with spin it may do some trick,’ he said.
‘I am happy that I won the man-of-the-match award in a spinner-friendly wicket and realised that hard work always pays off,’ said Mpofu, who celebrated his 25th birthday four days ago.
