Mohammad Saifuddin derails Zimbabwe bandwagon

Bangladesh needed to chase a moderate target of 247 runs for the victory in the second One-Day International (ODI) of a three-match series against visiting Zimbabwe at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday, reports UNB.

Sent in to bat first, the Zimbabwean players Brendan Taylor [73-ball 75], Sikandar Raza [61-ball 49] and Sean Williams [76-ball 47] played their careful innings to handle Bangladesh bowlers, spin and pace attacks to post 246 for 7 in 50 overs.

Mohammad Saifuddin got skipper-cum-opener Hamilton Masakadza on 18 in 4.5 overs before Brendan Taylor came at the crease to play his innings, which included two partnership score of 77 off 17.3 overs and 52 off 8.5 overs with Cephas Zhuwao and Sean Williams in the 3rd and 2nd wicket respectively.

Brendan Taylor hit nine boundaries and one six before being lbw by MahmudullahRiyad on 147/3 in 29.3 overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz got Cephas Zhuwao [27-ball 20] to remove the second partnership on 70/2 in 12th overs.

Saifuddin claimed his second wicket dismissing SC Williams, who hit two boundaries in his innings and shared a partnership of 41 off 8.3 overs in the 4th wicket with SikandarRaza, on 188/4 in 38 overs.

S Raza, who fired three boundaries and two sixes in his innings, continued in the next wicket with Peter Moor [20-ball 17] for another partnership of 41 off 7.3 overs before skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza got S Raza on 229/5 in 45.3 overs.

Saifuddin captured three wickets for 45 runs in 10 overs while Mahmudullah [1/21], Mustafizur Rahman [1/35], Mehidy Hasan Miraz [1/45] and Mashrafe [1/49] equally shared four wickets for Bangladesh.

Having 1-0 lead in the series with a convincing 28-run victory in the first match in Dhaka, Bangladesh opted bowl first in the day's match aiming to series victory.