Zimbabwe bounced back in three-match one-day series against Bangladesh with an empathic six-wicket win in the second game as a heroic innings by
Abdur Razzak went in vain at the Queens Sports Club at Bulawayo on Sunday.
Razzak scored his maiden ODI half-century off just 21 balls, a record for Bangladesh, to help the visitors post 252-9, but Williams made it ridiculously inadequate with his unbeaten 78 from 76 balls as Zimbabwe knocked off the target in 47.5 overs to level the series 1-1.
Williams and Malcom Waller (39 not out) put on 86 runs in their broken fifth-wicket stand, without giving Bangladesh any chance to come back in the game after paceman Ziaur Rahman had dismissed skipper Brendan Taylor.
Taylor made 37 from 60 balls at a crucial stage when Bangladesh were looking to regain their control after some poor bowling at the start which allowed Zimbabwe to make a flying start to the game.
Shafiul Islam bowled Hamilton Masakadza for 15 but Vusi Sibanda and Sikandar Raza faced very little trouble before two wickets in successive overs gave Bangladesh some hope.
Sakib al Hasan trapped Sibanda lbw for 49 runs and Shafiul had Raza caught by the all-rounder in the next over as Zimbabwe collapsed to 94-3, which briefly slowed down their progress.
However, Williams steadied the ship with the help of Taylor before Waller joined him to push for victory.
Zimbabwe dominated the game right from the beginning as Bangladesh lost wickets at a regular interval. Poor umpiring did not help Bangladesh’s cause either.
The Tigers were at the receiving end of at least two dubious decisions which dented their chances of putting a decent total on the board.
Bangladesh lost both openers Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful with just 16 runs on the board and just when Mushfiqur Rahim was helping the Tigers recover from the damage he was given lbw to a ball that was going down the leg.
Mominul Haque survived two dropped catches and a stumping chance before he managed to get himself out for 24, but Sakib on the other side looked very solid. Sakib was furious when he was given lbw on 34 despite the ball hitting the inside edge of his bat.
It left the onus on Nasir Hossain, but it was not his day either. Nasir could manage just 36 runs and out-of-sort vice-captain Mahmudullah followed him with another average innings of 31.
Just when it seemed Bangladesh would be bundled out for less than 220 runs, Razzak came from nowhere to hit five sixes to complete his maiden fifty leaving Zimbabwe stunned.
His unbeaten 53 runs from 22 balls, which also included four fours, took Bangladesh past the 250-run mark, though it was not enough on a pitch looked to be tailor-made for the batsmen.
BRIEF SCORES
Second ODI
Bangladesh 252-9 in 50 overs (A Razzak 53 not out, N Hossain 36, Sakib al Hasan 34, Mahmudullah 31, M Rahim 26, M Haque 24; E Chigumbura 3-39, T Chatara 2-33) v Zimbabwe 253-4 in 47.5 overs (S Williams 78 not out, V Sibanda 49, M Waller 39 not out, B Taylor 37,
S Raza 23; S Islam 2-51)
Result: Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets.
Man of the match: S Williams (ZIM)
-With New Age input
