Rana's record haul eclipsed by Bangladesh's batting collapse against Zimbabwe

Nahid Rana produced the finest ODI bowling figures by a Bangladesh pacer, but a spectacular batting collapse squandered his heroics as the Tigers slumped to a 25-run defeat against Zimbabwe in the opening game in Harare.

On a pitch offering sharp pace, seam and uneven bounce, Rana was virtually unplayable on Monday. 

His blistering spell of 6-21 ripped through Zimbabwe's middle order and appeared to have put Bangladesh firmly in control before the hosts mounted a remarkable fightback.

After captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz opted to bowl under overcast skies, Zimbabwe looked comfortable at 36 without loss before Bangladesh struck with ruthless precision.

Mehidy sparked the collapse with a direct-hit run-out to remove Ben Curran, before Taskin Ahmed dismissed Brian Bennett and bowled Craig Ervine with a superb delivery that jagged back to clip the top of middle stump.

Then came Rana's devastating burst.

Extracting steep bounce and lively movement, the fast bowler dismantled Zimbabwe's batting, dismissing Sikandar Raza, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande, Innocent Kaia and Brad Evans in a spell of relentless hostility. 

Zimbabwe crashed from 36-0 to 70-8, with Rana completing his third ODI 5-wicket haul of the year.

But Bangladesh failed to deliver the knockout blow.

Newman Nyamhuri and stand-in captain Richard Ngarava counterattacked with a defiant 63-run ninth-wicket partnership, frustrating the visitors and lifting Zimbabwe to a competitive 141. 

Rana eventually ended the resistance with a pinpoint yorker to claim his sixth wicket before Mehidy wrapped up the innings.

Bangladesh's chase unravelled almost immediately.

Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Soumya Sarkar all departed inside the opening four overs, leaving the visitors reeling at 17-3.

Towhid Hridoy and Nurul Hasan steadied the innings with a patient stand, but just as Bangladesh looked to be regaining control, Hridoy fell chasing a wide delivery from Nyamhuri.

That dismissal triggered another collapse.

From 66-3, Bangladesh lost their remaining seven wickets for just 50 runs. 

Mehidy, Mosaddek Hossain and Rishad Hossain all fell cheaply, while Nurul's determined 31 ended in a contentious lbw decision that could not be reviewed because the match was played without the DRS.

Nyamhuri capped a memorable all-round performance with a key breakthrough and two outstanding boundary catches, while Ngarava claimed 3-31 to seal Zimbabwe's victory.

Rana's unforgettable spell ultimately ended on the losing side as Bangladesh paid dearly for another brittle batting display.