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Download PDF Mashrafee Bin Mortuza was flayed for 19 runs in the final over as Bangladesh suffered a painful two-wicket defeat against Zimbabwe in the thrilling third one-dayer at the Harare Sports Club ground on Wednesday.
Mashrafee’s nervous breakdown in the last over that saw Zimbabwe’s Brandon Taylor hitting two sixes and a four to eke out a memorable win also spoiled a fantastic feat by fellow quickie Shahadat Hossain, who became the first Bangladeshi bowler to complete a hattrick in the abridged version of the game.
The 20-year-old Shahadat almost turned the match on its head when he dismissed Tafadzwa Mufambisi, Elton Chigumbura and captain Prosper Utseya in the 39th over, leaving the home side tottering at 151 for seven.
But just when the Bangladesh camp thought a victory was a matter of time, Taylor was still there to give a twist in the tale that eventually came down to the wire in the final over.
Needing 17 runs from six balls, the right-hander smote the second ball, a full toss, high over mid-wicket for a six and then smacked the fourth delivery, another full toss, to the same region for a four, leaving the equation at five from two balls. He hit the fifth delivery straight to Rafique at midwicket and though Tawanda Mupariwa, who had done his part in a magnificent 81-run eighth wicket stand, wanted a single, which Taylor turned down, resulting in him being run out. Taylor’s decision to keep the strike for the final delivery paid off in no better way as Mashrafee fatefully bowled another full toss and he gleefully dispatched it over the widish long-on fence sparking wild celebrations among a small crowd.
Taylor finished on an unbeaten 79 as Zimbabwe toppled Bangladesh’s 236 all out with the final delivery of the match. The victory gave the host a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Earlier, the Bangladesh total was built around a couple of half-centuries by Aftab Ahmed (53) and Rajin Saleh (54). Mohammad Ashraful scored 46 but the visitors’ innings derailed once the three set batsmen got themselves out.
Aftab picked up the pace even after Bangladesh lost both their openers Shahriar Nafees (0) and Javed Omar (6) for 13 runs on the board. The Chittagong batsman struck four fours and two sixes in his typically aggressive 39-ball knock.
Coming in place of injured captain Habibul Bashar, Saleh scored a workmanlike 54 off 90 balls that contained four boundaries.
But Bangladesh, who were at one stage cruising on 179-5, lost their last five wickets for 57 runs.
The fourth one-dayer will take place at the same venue on Friday.
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