Soumya, Imrul’s tons secure Tigers’ 3-0 clean sweep
A 220-run strong second wicket stand between Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes helped Bangladesh to secure a 3-0 clean sweep over Zimbabwe beating them by seven-wicket in the third and final ODI held on Friday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, reports BSS.
The left handed batsman Soumya hit nine boundaries and six over boundaries in glittering 117-run knock in his comeback match and Imrul giving him support to Soumya also completed his fourth ODI hundred as Bangladesh easily chase down the target in 42.1 overs with seven wickets in hand.
Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes’s 220 runs for the second wicket was the highest 2nd-wicket stand for Bangladesh in ODIs and is only second to Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad’s 224-run partnership for the country in the 50-over format.
The Zimbabwe bowlers seemed helpless and failed to put any pressure as Soumya and Imrul launched onslought mercilessly punishing them all square of the park after Jarvis trapped opener Liton Das for duck in the first ball of the match.
Following Soumya’s departure, Imrul also registered his second ton in the ongoing series. The left-handed batsman has already surpassed Tamim Iqbal’s record for the most runs (312) by a Bangladeshi batsman in a three-ODI bilateral series.
He blasted 112-ball off 115-run with the help of 10 boundaries and two over boundaries while Mushfiqur Rahim was remain unbeaten with 28 till the end of the innings.
Hamlinti Masakadza, Kyle Jarvis and Wellington Masakadza captured one wicket each conceding 3, 47 and 71 runs respectively.
Soumya Sarkar of Bangladesh was adjudged the player of the match for his impressive century in the match while Imrul Kayes was named the player of the series.
Earlier, Sean Williams scored his career best century saw visiting Zimbabwe to amass a challenging total of 286 for 5 from their allotted 50 overs against Bangladesh.
Williams who completed his second ODI hundred today composed an unbeaten 129-run and pairing with Brendon Taylor stood firm against early Bangladesh onslaught, restoring the Zimbabwean after the visitors were forced to bat first by Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.
Williams hit ten boundaries and one over boundary during his 143-ball stay on the crease.
The 26-year young left handed batsman Williams also involved three important partnerships - 132 runs with Brendon Taylor and 84 runs with Sikandar Raza and 62 runs with Peter Moor again put up to a rescue act after Mohammad Saifuddin and Abu Hider struck early with Saifuddin picking up the wicket of Cephas Zhuwao for duck in the third ball of the second over while Hider sent back captain Hamilton Masakadza making him clean bowled.
The 32-year wicket keeper batsman Taylor also contributed useful 72-ball off 75-run with the help of eight boundaries and three over boundaries before giving a back catch to Mushfiqur Rahim off Nazmul Islam’s delivery.
Sikandar (40) was looking comfortable with bat providing a good support to Williams but failed to stretch his innings as he perished to Nazmul.
Later, Peter Moor made a quick fire 21-ball off 28 runs helped Zimbabwe to post a big total.
Nazmul Islam was the pick of Bangladesh bowler as he claimed two Zimbabwe’s wickets conceding 58 runs. He was well supported by Abu Haider and Mohammad Saifuddin who took one wicket giving away 39 and 51 runs respectively.
Brief score: Zimbabwe innings - 286 for 5 in 50 overs, Williams 129 n.o, Taylor 75, Sikandar 40, Moor 28, Nazmul 2/58.
Bangladesh innings - 288 for 3 in 42.1 overs Soumya 117,Kayes 115, Mushfiqur 28 n.o, Masakadza 1/3, Jarvis 1/47 and Wellington Masakadza 1/71.
