BAN VS ZIM ODI

That's it then from this match and it is Zimbabwe who have followed up their T20I series victory with an ODI series win as well, their first since 2017. There is still one game left in the ODI series and Bangladesh will be eager to come back stronger and end the tour on a positive note. That match will be played on Wednesday, the 10th of August at the Harare Sports Club and it will begin at 12.45 pm IST (7.15 am GMT). Our build-up though will begin much sooner. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Regis Chakabva, the captain of Zimbabwe says that it is better late than ever to get a century. He says that this series win is massive for them and they have been playing really good cricket. He adds that the key is to be positive and play with positive intent. He ends by saying that they will come again in the next match and play well and try to get the win.

The Bangladesh skipper, Tamim Iqbal says that the difference is that the opposition had two centurions but they didn't have a single one. Adds that they got off to a good start with the bat but then it went downhill and Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain batted well to get them towards a defendable total of 290. Says that the wicket was good but when the spinners came on it wasn't as easy as the last game and all credit goes to Zimbabwe to get the win. Ends by saying that they need to pull up their socks if they are to end the series with a win.

Sikandar Raza (3 for 56 & 117* off 127 balls) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant all-round display. Raza says that to be part of something special with Zimbabwe is really good. He says that he is taking the award but praises Tony Munyonga and Regis Chakabva for their knocks. He also adds that the bowlers did well to restrict Bangladesh. He ends by saying that the experienced players are trying to set up a good platform for the younger ones to come in and take it from there.

The presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Regis Chakabva put the opposition in to bat first but Bangladesh started off briskly with Tamim Iqbal finding the fence with regularity. But once he got out, wickets started to tumble and the visitors had to rebuild. It was then a steady stand between Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain that got Bangladesh back in the game. Mahmudullah scored 80 valuable runs and there were starts throughout the order but no one really went on to get a big score. Zimbabwe were sloppy in the field but their spinners, Sikandar Raza and Wesley Madhevere bowled extremely and picked up five wickets in between them to restrict the opposition to under 300 runs. Bangladesh started off well with the ball but they too were sloppy in the field. Hasan Mahmud was the start with the ball for them and their spinners bowled decently but just couldn't control the middle phase. Zimbabwe were once again thankful to Sikandar Raza for pulling them out of trouble but this time the skipper Regis Chakabva gave him ample support and Tony Munyonga added the finishing touches to seal the series 2-0.

Bangladesh will be scratching their heads at the moment and will be thinking how have they let this one slip out of their hands! Hasan Mahmud was simply brilliant with the new ball and sent back two batters very early in the innings. The others bowled well around him and the visitors were on top with the opposition 49 for 4. However, they were poor in the middle over and hardly created any chances, allowing the hosts to dictate play. They did break the stand between Raza and Chakabva but by then it was just too late. Their pacers, apart from Mahmud were handed a thrashing and they have now only pride to play for in this ODI series.

Zimbabwe have pulled off yet another great escape. They have gone from being 49 for 4 at one point to finishing the game off in style and with 15 balls to spare. The hosts tweaked their batting order a bit but the top order failed once again. It was then an unreal partnership of 201 runs between their star man, Sikandar Raza and the skipper, Regis Chakabva that got them in contention for the win. Both batters paced their innings beautifully but Chakabva was the aggressor. The two notched up memorable tons before the skipper got out. With still some work left to do, Tony Munyonga went into overdrive towards the fag end and sealed the deal for his team, a memorable debut for him.

What a finish to the game, the debutant Tony Munyonga hits the winning runs! Yet another humdinger of a game that we have witnessed once again between these two teams. It is Zimbabwe who thanks to yet another sublime century from Sikandar Raza and some late fireworks from the debutant Tony Munyonga have edged this one and have sealed the series win. This is their first ODI series victory since 2017, it has been a long wait but surely worth it for the home fans.

FOUR! The debutant, Tony Munyonga  hits the winning runs. This is flighted full and on middle and off, Tony Munyonga goes down and sweeps it over backward square leg for a boundary. The crowd erupts in joy and the two batters celebrate wildly. Zimbabwe win by 5 wickets and takes an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series

Floated and around middle, Sikandar Raza sweeps it towards deep square leg for a single.

Tossed up full and on middle, Tony Munyonga uses his feet and drives it towards long on for one.

DROPPED! This is in the blockhole and on off, Tony Munyonga slices it uppishly  towards point where the fielder cannot grab it. They cross.

SIX! What a shot! This is a bit full and on middle, Tony Munyonga goes down and slogs it againg over the deep mid-wicket fence for another maxiumum.

SIX! BANG! He is in a hurry to finish this. A short delivery again and on middle, Tony Munyonga slams it hard and flat in front of the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

FOUR! That will release a lot of pressure. This is short and on middle, Tony Munyonga pulls it hard and bisects the fielders at long on and deep mid-wicket to find the fence.

DROPPED! A slower ball again, on a length and on the leg stump, Tony Munyonga flicks it in the air towards the short fine leg. The fielder there dives to his left but cannot grab and parries it towards fine leg. Two runs taken,