Medium pacer Ziaur Rahman picked up his maiden five-wicket haul to lead Bangladesh to a crushing 121-run win over Zimbabwe in the first one-day international of the three-match series at Bulawayo\u2019s Queens Sports Club on Friday.
\nZia, playing only his second ODI, claimed 5-30 to wreak havoc on Zimbabwe\u2019s batting line-up, dismissing them for 148 runs in 32.1 overs after the Tigers, sent in to bat first, put on a modest 269-8.
\nPace bowler Shafiul Islam caused an early damage by picking up two wickets on his return to the national team after recovering from his toe injury before Zimbabwe seemed to lift the innings as Hamilton Masakadza and captain Brendan Taylor put on 65 runs in their third-wicket stand.
\nBut just when the pair appeared to put the Tigers on the back foot, experienced left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak broke the partnership by removing Taylor with his arm-ball for 33 to bring the tourists back into the game.
\nIt also provided the opportunity for skipper Mushfiqur Rahim to introduce Zia, who eventually turned the game in Tigers\u2019 favour as he picked up wickets at regular intervals, making him the third Bangladeshi pace bowlers to take five wickets in ODIs after Mashrafee bin Murtaza and Aftab Ahmed.
\nZia began his demolition act by removing in-form Hamilton with a delivery that swung in from outside the off-stump and hit him in front to be adjudged lbw for 38 from 53 balls that also gave them a hope of winning the game.
\nZia, who had a fairly decent performance with the ball, failed with the bat against Sri Lanka in his debut ODI series last month, putting his place in the ODI side in doubt before he put in a fine performance in the last Test to take four wickets that earned him another chance in the one-day team.
\nWhen Zia dismissed the last dangerman Elton Chigumbura for no score it was all but over for the Zimbabwean side making it a matter of time for the Tigers to seal the fate of the match to show their excellent one-day form.
\nEarlier despite a brief middle-order collapse, the Tigers piled up a modest total after in-form Nasir Hossain rescued them by scoring his fifth half-century, making 68 from 67 balls and helping his team post 269-8.
\nBangladesh were struggling at 94-4, before Nasir came in to bat and along with Mominul Haque (38) added 76 runs for the fifth wicket to give them a solid platform that was well used by the lower-order batsmen.
\nVice-captain Mahmudullah, who was dropped for the last Test, came back strongly making 38 runs and guiding the tail-enders when Nasir departed after holing out a catch\u00a0 at deep point to Waller.
\nBangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was happy to start the one-day series on a winning note and thanked all his performers for their contributions.
\n\u2018Always happy with such wins. It is an important match because this is the series opener,\u2019 said Mushfiq.
\n\u2018We lost a few wickets, but Nasir, Mominul and Mahmudullah batted really well. Shows Nasir is in good form. It is a pleasure to play with him. He and Mominul built a crucial partnership,\u2019 said Mushfiq.
\n\u2018Shafiul took early wickets, and we knew it was a matter of one or two wickets when they got that partnership going. And Zia bowled superbly,\u2019 he added.
\nMedium pacer Zia added that he reaped the benefit of following the basic and bowling straight.
\n\u2018First of all I thank Allah. I was looking to bowl straight, just bowl line and length,\u2019 said Zia.
\n\u2018Everybody supported me. Beautiful country. I am enjoying the stay here,\u2019 he added.
\nBangladesh will play the second ODI at the same venue on Sunday.
\nBRIEF SCORES
\nFirst ODI
\nBangladesh 269-8 in 50 overs (N Hossain 68, M Haque 38, Mahmudullah 36, T Iqbal 31, M Ashraful 29; S Masakadza 4-51, T Chatara 2-52) v Zimbabwe 148 in 32.1 overs (H Masakadza 38, S Masakadza 33, B Taylor 33; Z Rahman 5-30, S Islam 2-39)
\nResult: Bangladesh won by 121 runs.
\nMan of the match: Z Rahman (BNG)
\nBest Bowling for Tigers in odis
\nP\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 M\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 R\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 W\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 G\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Y
\nMashrafee Murtaza\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10.0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kenya\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nairobi\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2006
\nAbdur Razzak\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9.2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 29\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zimbabwe\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dhaka\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2009
\nAbdur Razzak\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9.2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 30\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zimbabwe\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dhaka\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2010
\nZiaur Rahman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9.0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 30\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zimbabwe\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bulawayo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2013
\nAftab Ahmed\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10.0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 New Zealand\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dhaka\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2004<\/p>\n

-With New Age<\/span> input<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Medium pacer Ziaur Rahman picked up his maiden five-wicket haul to lead Bangladesh to a crushing 121-run win over Zimbabwe in the first one-day international of the three-match series at Bulawayo\u2019s Queens Sports Club on Friday. Zia, playing only his second ODI, claimed 5-30 to wreak<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[1108,10559,1109,4521],"yoast_head":"\n