Despite composed half-centuries from Tawhid Hridoy and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Bangladesh suffered a narrow 13-run defeat against Zimbabwe in the second ODI at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, handing the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a target of 248, the Tigers appeared well-positioned at various stages of the chase. Tanzid set the tone with a fluent 57 off 70 balls, while Hridoy anchored the innings with a gritty 60 from 90 deliveries. A useful cameo from Nurul Hasan Sohan (38) kept the visitors in the hunt, but the chase derailed spectacularly late in the innings. Following Nurul’s dismissal to Zimbabwe captain Richard Ngarava—who finished with impressive figures of 3-55—the lower order crumbled. The visitors lost their final four wickets for a mere 15 runs, ultimately folding for 234 in 48.1 overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz fought hard for his 27, but his departure in the penultimate over extinguished the Tigers’ final hopes of forcing a decider.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers had dominated the proceedings, reducing Zimbabwe to a precarious 148 for six in the 37th over. Taskin Ahmed provided a blistering start, removing openers Brian Bennett and Innocent Kaia early, while Nahid Rana and Miraz continued to stifle the hosts. However, the momentum shifted dramatically thanks to an unbroken 99-run partnership between Ben Curran and Brad Evans. Curran anchored the innings to finish unbeaten on 111 off 135 balls, while Evans played a blistering cameo, smashing a career-best 58 not out off just 38 deliveries. The duo’s late-innings assault, which included a flurry of boundaries off Taskin in the final over, lifted Zimbabwe to a competitive 247 for six.
With the series already decided, the two sides are set to face off in the third and final ODI at the same venue this Saturday.
