Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE have wrapped up the One-Day International series against Bangladesh with a match to spare, producing yet another stunning comeback to beat the visitors by 13 runs at Harare Sports Club this Thursday, to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Only three days after stealing the first ODI from the jaws of defeat by defending a modest 141, the Chevrons were at it again.
This time, they looked to have let the match slip away after Bangladesh appeared firmly in control of the chase, but just when victory seemed destined for the visitors, Zimbabwe refused to read from the script.
Ben Curran laid the platform with a magnificent 111, while Brad Evans injected late momentum with a blistering half-century to lift Zimbabwe to a competitive 247 for six.
Bangladesh responded positively and, with Tanzid Hasan and Towhid Hridoy both registering half-centuries, looked on course to level the series.
But Zimbabwe’s bowlers had other ideas.
Richard Ngarava led from the front with three wickets, while Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans struck at crucial moments as Bangladesh’s chase unravelled dramatically, with the Chevrons picking up the last 7 wickets for 65 runs after the visitors looked on course for a series leveller.
The visitors were eventually dismissed for 234, handing Zimbabwe a 13-run victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The remarkable turnaround continues a memorable home campaign for Zimbabwe, who earlier on crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 85 runs in
the one-off Test before carrying that confidence into the ODI series.
The third and final ODI on Saturday now offers Zimbabwe the chance to complete a clean sweep and further cement what is already one of their finest all-format performances in recent years.
