Bangladesh win fourth ODI to move closer to whitewash Zimbabwe again

Bangladesh have taken a giant step towards a clean sweep of the ODI series against Zimbabwe as they comfortably beat the tourists by 21 runs in the fourth match in Dhaka.

The hosts extended their triumphant streak by defending a modest total for the 50th win at home at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday

Opting to bat first, the Tigers posted 256 for eight on the back of a splendid 134-run fifth wicket partnership after slumping to 32 for four at one stage.

Mahmudullah Riyad's steady, unbeaten 82 and Mushfiqur Rahim’s fluent 77 off 78 propelled the hosts to the score.

Zimbabwe came closest to winning against the Tigers on this tour crossing 200 for the first time but fell just short at 235 for eight in their 50 overs.

The Africans had a strong start with openers Hamilton Masakadza (28) and Vusi Sibanda (17) sharing a 48-run stand. But Shakib Al Hasan struck twice in as many consecutive overs to send both the openers back.

Timycen Maruma (6) soon followed them as debutant Jubair Hossain took his first scalp which reduced Zimbabwe to 60 for three.

Maruma’s dismissal brought Brendan Taylor (63) and Solomon Mire (52) together. The duo scored at a brisk rate to lead the recovery as Zimbabwe reached 100 in the 23rd over.

They kept the scoreboard ticking with regular boundaries, twos and ones and kept up with the required rate much to the Tigers’ frustration before throwing their wickets away at crucial times.

Mire, dropped on 32, stepped on the gas with a couple of sixes but eventually fell when Jubair bagged his second. That ended his 54-ball 52 and 106-run stand with Taylor.

Rubel Hossain sent Taylor packing with a bouncer after the batsman had scored 63 off 69 balls with seven boundaries. Zimbabwe still required 85 runs off 90 balls with five wickets in hand.

But the dismissal of two set batsman piled up pressure on the tourists as the required rate crept up. Skipper Elton Chigumbura fell trying to up the tempo and became his Bangladesh counterpart Mashrafe bin Mortaza’s only wicket.

With six wickets down Regis Chakabva (26) and Peter Moor (13) fought on to add 28 more to the score. But they soon perished as the required rate climbed to over 12 runs per over.

Tendai Chatara bludgeoned a six off the last ball of the innings only to cut the deficit as the Tigers sealed their fourth straight win.

Earlier, a top-order collapse saw Anamul Haque (5), Tamim Iqbal (16), Imrul Kayes (5) and Shakib Al Hasan (1) all back in the hutch with just 32 on the board in the 13th over.

Then Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad took charge and brought up 100 in the 26th over. The pair stitched 100-run partnership in 119 balls.

But Mushfiq’s dismissal triggered another collapse during the batting powerplay, in which the hosts managed only 21 runs.

Sabbir Rahman (4) and Abul Hasan (1) departed as the Tigers slumped to 177 for 7. Thereafter Mahmudullah and Mashrafe came together to add quickfire 65 off 48 balls for the eighth wicket.

The skipper went down swinging in the penultimate over after scoring 39 off just 25 balls smashing four boundaries and two sixes.

Mahmudullah remained unbeaten and was adjudged Man of the Match for his crucial innings.

The Bangladesh and Zimbabwe players observed a minute's silence before the match in memory of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died the day before. The players also wore black armbands.

The last of the five matches will be held at the same venue on Monday.