Bangladesh was on the verge of sweeping Zimbabwe in their one-day international series after winning the fourth match by 21 runs on Friday. The bowlers put up a disciplined performance for the hosts to lead the series 4-0, restricting Zimbabwe to 235-8 after the batsmen helped them to amass 256-8.
It was Bangadesh’s 50th ODI victory on home soil. The series finale is on Monday. left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan removed the Zimbabwe openers in the space of three balls, and legspinner Jubair Hossain took 2-42 on debut.
“Jubair is our main bowler, it was his first match and we had to back him. He did well,” Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said.
Shakib’s pair lifted his career ODI tally against Zimbabwe to 41, the highest by any bowler, eclipsing Sri lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan on 39.
Brendan Taylor top-scored for Zimbabwe with 63, while Solomon Mire made a 54-ball 52. They threatened to give Zimbabwe its first win of the series with 106 for the fourth wicket, until Mire was dismissed by Jubair Hossain.
A Rubel Hossain bouncer got Taylor, who struck seven fours in 69 balls. Zimbabwe was left to make 30 in the final over, and made only eight.
Earlier, Mahmudullah struck a career-best 82 not out to steer Bangladesh to a challenging total. Mushfiqur Rahim scored 77, and combined for 134 with Mahmudullah for the fifth wicket, after Bangladesh was at a miserable 32-4.
Brief Scores — Bangladesh: 256/8 (Mahmudullah 82 not out, Mushfiqur Rahim 77; Solomon Mire 3/49, Neville Madziva 3/60) beat Zimbabwe: 235/8 (Brendan Taylor 63, Solomon Mire 52; Shakib Al Hasan 2/28, Jubair Hossain 2/42) by 21 runs.