Liton, Kayes power Bangladesh to 7-wicket win over Zimbabwe, clinch series 2-0
Bangladesh sealed the three-match series against Zimbabwe with a game to spare after cruising to a seven-wicket victory in the second one-day international on Wednesday.
A 148-run partnership between Liton Das and Imruk Kayes in the opening stand proved to be key as Bangladesh raced to victory with 250/3, overhauling Zimbabwe's 246/7.
Kayes, the centurion of the previous match, made a useful 90, while Liton Das smashed a 77-ball 83, giving the side an early impetus. Mushfiqur Rahim was not out on 40.
Das could have gone for 0 in just third ball of the innings when fast bowler Kyle Jarvis convinced the umpire to give a leg-before verdict, but he stayed in after a review.
Kayes was not as attacking as Das but regularly found the gap to keep the bowlers busy.
Sikandar Raza (3/43) broke through twice, claiming the wicket of Das and Fazle Mahmud (0) in his consecutive two overs. But it mattered little as Kayes found a support in Mushfiqur Rahim to keep the side aloft.
Raza took the wicket of Kayes when he was approaching his second consecutive century before Rahim and Mohammad Mithun (24 not out) sealed the game.
Brendan Taylor was key in Zimbabwe's batting after Mashrafe Mortaza opted to bowl first, predicting the dew would come into play in the later part of the innings. Taylor struck a 73- ball 75, with nine fours and one six and shared two important partnerships with Cephas Zhuwao (20) and Craig Ervine (47).
Pace bowler Mohammad Saifuddin, with his career-best 3/45, stalled Zimbabwe's progress.
Bangladesh gave away just 19 runs in last five overs, which proved to be decisive.
(With AP Inputs)
