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Tigers back to pathetic self

Zimbabwe take lead in series

Sports Reporter
Bangladesh bowlers once again showed their character after yet another pathetic batting display but the home team still suffered a two-wicket defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in the low-scoring first one-day international of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Chasing a paltry target of 125, Zimbabwe endured batting collapse of their own too and were pushed to the last over requiring six runs, but match hero Ray Price hit the first two deliveries from Nazmul Hossain for on-side boundaries as the tourists took a 1 -0 lead in the series.
Price held his nerve during his unbeaten 52-ball 23 after capping a career best 4 for 22 to make sure Bangladesh lose another close fight after the home team's identical loss in
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the tri-nation cup final against Sri Lanka four days ago.
Some credit must go to number ten Tawanda Muparivva (10) who provided perfect support to Price in the 35-run ninth wicket stand to continue their success against theTigers on the tour after their 38-run victory in the tri-nation cup opener.
After dismal batting, following Mohammad Ashraful's surprise decision to bat in foggy condition, the bowlers once again took charge in poor exhibition of cricket as Zimbabwe's chase faltered from the start.
It was once again pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who kindled the Tigers' hope by removing openers Hamilton Masakadza and Tatcnda Taibu with the total on 23.
Mashrafe got little movement, but Masakadza chased one pitched up outside off-stump and edged to Rokibul Hasan at the second slip while wickctkecpcr-batsman Taibu had his stumps splayed by a good delivery from the righthand pacer.
Then it was in-form Shakib Al Hasan as Stuart M a t s i k e n y e r I played a cramped shot to the left-arm spinner's first delivery and was bowled. Shakib also drew an
edge from Sean Williams's bat forhis second victim.
Mashrafe claimed three wickets as he also scalped Elton Chigumbura, who recorded the second longest duck in the one-day history by playing out 27 balls, while Shakib also picked up three, returning career-best figures of 10-4-11-3, as Zimbabwe tottered at44 forsix.
Resistance came in little amount from Malcolm Waller and captain Prosper Utseya before spinner Mahmudullah Riyad trapped the former in front for 24.
Bangladesh were well placed for an unlikely victory when Ashraful took a good catch at mid-off to send Utseya back off Rubel Hossain, hut Price and Muparivva dashed the home team's hope.
Earlier, Zimbabwe's medium-pacers set the tone as they used the condition brilliantly to put the pressure on the Bangladesh batsmen.
The first three overs were maiden and it seemed opencis Tamim Iqbal and Zunaed Siddiqui got past the early threat, but once Ed Rainsford brought about the first break through by trapping Zunaed lbw in the seventh over, wit kets kept falling like ninepins.
And the Tigers innings folded for only 121 in IB I overs, their third lowest total against the Africans.