Zimbabwe 199 (Madhevere 75, Evans 50, Shoriful 4-44) vs Bangladesh

From 108 for 5 after 33 overs, with a stodgy scoring rate of 3.27 an over, Zimbabwe added 91 runs in 15.1 overs to set Bangladesh a target of 200. Batting at No.8, Brad Evans struck a second successive half-century, this one off 41 balls, and shared in three lower-order partnerships of 20 runs or more to push Zimbabwe to a competitive total on a sticky pitch.

Wessly Madhevere reached his ODI best of 75 off 74 balls but no other Zimbabwe batter in the top seven scored more than Innocent Kaia's 25. Bangladesh put Zimbabwe in to bat for the third match in succession, and will be reasonably pleased with their performance though they were unable to chop the tail off early. Taskin Ahmed was exceptional and his first nine overs cost 21 runs before his final went for 11 to leave him with figures of 2 for 32. His new-ball partner Shoriful Islam took 4 for 44 and the pair had Zimbabwe under the pump for most of the innings.

With an additional seamer, Mohammed Saifuddin, in their ranks, Bangladesh hoped to prise quick wickets and they got that and more. Taskin started with three wides before he found his rhythm and tested both Ben Curran and Brian Bennett with back-of-a-length deliveries that flirted with both the inside and outside edges. While Taskin built pressure and conceded just six runs in his first three overs, Shoriful got the first reward. Curran played on, almost in slow-motion, as he tried to guide the ball behind square and then was unable to fend it away from the stumps. In the next over Taskin's toil paid off as he had Bennett caught behind off a beauty that swerved away gently and the batter could not help playing at it. Zimbabwe did not score a run for the next 17 deliveries and finished the powerplay on 21 for 2, with Kaia's straight drive their only boundary.

Craig Ervine faced 20 balls for five runs before he attempted a loose drive off Shoriful and was caught behind. Madhevere should have followed with the introduction of spin, when he sent Tanvir Islam to backward point but was dropped on 0, which proved costly for Bangladesh. Madhevere and Kaia shared a stand of 51 as Zimbabwe rebuilt slowly. There was only one release shot in their stand, when Madhevere hit Tanvir over long-on for six but the going was tough. The scoreboard was barely moving as Zimbabwe were 72 for 3 at the halfway stage.

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