Bangladesh level series

HARARE: Debutant Farhad Reza’s half-century and disciplined bowling helped Bangladesh to square their one-day series against Zimbabwe on Sunday. Bangladesh won the second game in the five-match series by 63 runs after Zimbabwe beat the visitors by two wickets at the same venue on Saturday.

Farhad Reza’s 50, which he scored off 57 balls with four fours and a six, was Bangladesh’s top score in their total of 238 for seven. In reply, Zimbabwe were bundled out for 175 in 44.4 overs. Fast bowler Shahadat Hossain struck up and down the order and took three for 41 from 7.4 overs. Shahadat was well supported by medium pacer Abdur Razzak, who took two for 28, and left-arm spinner Mohammad Raique, who claimed two for 24 from 10 overs. The visitors lost wickets steadily after being put in to bat, although a smashed 40 off 25 balls by number three Aftab Ahmed kept the runs flowing.

Bangladesh was reduced to 76 for five in the 20th over before Khaled Mashud joined Reza to add 71 runs for the sixth wicket. Mohammad Rafique, who scored 32, helped Mashud to add 48 for the seventh wicket.

Scorecard
Bangladesh 238/ 8 (Aftab Ahmed 40, Farhad Reza 50, Khaled Mashud n.o 48; Rainsford 2/51, Mahwire 3/29) beat Zimbabwe 175 in 44.4 ovs (V Sibanda 33, S Matsikenyeri 46; Shahadat Hossain 3/41 Abdur Razzak 2/28, Mohammad Rafique 2/24)