Shakib, Mushfiqur lift Bangladesh to 281

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AFP
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Shakib, Mushfiqur lift Bangladesh to 281
CHITTAGONG: Shakib Al Hasan blasted his way to a sixth ODI hundred to help Bangladesh to 281 for 7 in 50 overs. History, however, is on Zimbabwe's side, as nine out of 13 teams have won batting second at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Sabbir Rahman provided the fireworks towards the end with a 25-ball 44 which included three fours and sixes each. Two of those big hits came off the last two balls of the innings, as he hammered Tinashe Panyangara over midwicket and mid-off. Panyangara took three wickets and Chatara two, and despite the late surge, Zimbabwe can consider themselves lucky to have kept Bangladesh below 300.

Dew would be the major reason for them to be comfortable at chasing down the target, as both sides have experienced the weather phenomenon during training in the days leading up to the game. As a result, the visitors' captain Elton Chigumbura promptly decided to field after winning the toss in the afternoon.

But Shakib kept the visitors at bay for most of the afternoon and early evening. He struck 101 off 99 balls with ten fours in an innings that took Bangladesh out of a troubled spot and into a dominant position. Bangladesh were precariously placed at 31 for 3 in the 12th over when Shakib joined Mominul Haque at the crease. The pair added 39 runs for the fourth wicket, after which Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim led a counterattack.

The pair added 148 runs for the fifth wicket, a Bangladesh record. Shakib started off with an edged boundary past gully, but that is often how he gets going. He waited for another 8.4 overs before cashing in on a poor delivery from John Nyumbu. Shakib cut loose slowly, reaching his 50 off 56 balls with four fours, and at the other end, Mushfiqur got down on his knees to pick up a couple of sixes.

Shakib continued to batter the Zimbabwe bowlers, and latched on to any bad delivery, and there were plenty during the latter part of his innings. He reached his century in the 43rd over and celebrated by playing some air shots around the ground.

Mushfiqur and Shakib added 78 between the 30th and 40th overs, and more tellingly, 48 during the second Powerplay. Mushfiqur rode his luck, though, as he was granted three lives- dropped on 16 by Chigumbura in the covers, caught on 56 off a no-ball and dropped on 60 by Taylor at point. Mushfiqur ended with 65 off 71 balls, with two fours and two sixes, but was unable to push on after Shakib's dismissal.

Still, the pair's partnership had already turned the tide of the game, as Bangladesh had lost early ground with a number of quick wickets. In the fifth over, Tamim Iqbal dragged a Panyangara delivery on to his stumps for his eighth bowled dismissal in 24 innings this year. The ball had pitched on middle and it did not seam away as much as Tamim had anticipated. His opening partner Anamul Haque followed him a bit later, scooping one up to mid-off after his attempted slog off Tendai Chatara was mistimed.