Pacer Taskin Ahmed took three early wickets to give Bangladesh a flying start against Zimbabwe in their opening match of the ongoing UAE ODI Tri-Series, also featuring Afghanistan, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.
Taskin removed Zimbabwe’s top three batters to reduce them to 24 for three in seven overs.
The right-arm quick struck in the very first over, trapping opener Brian Bennett lbw for a six-ball duck. Taskin struck again in the fifth over, dismissing the other opener, Ben Curran, who was also trapped in front after scoring six off 11 balls.
Taskin then removed wicketkeeper-batter Tafadzwa Tsiga, who top-edged a pull for an easy catch to wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan. Tsiga scored 16 off 15 balls.
Zimbabwe reached 28 for three in nine overs, with Craig Ervine yet to open his account after facing six deliveries and Brendan Taylor unbeaten on six off 16 balls.
Zimbabwe opt to bat as injured Litton misses tri-series opener
Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza won the toss and elected to bat first against Bangladesh in the opening match of a tri-series at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.
Tawhid Hridoy, who is leading Bangladesh in the absence of regular skipper Litton Das, confirmed at the toss that Litton would miss the match due to an injury.
Hridoy also revealed that Bangladesh were fielding three pacers and two spinners for the contest, adding that they would have preferred to bat first had they won the toss.
For Zimbabwe, wicketkeeper-batsman Tafadzwa Tsiga is making his ODI debut in this match.
This is Bangladesh’s first appearance in a tri-series since they clinched their maiden title in the format in Ireland in 2019.
Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy (captain), Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Saif Hassan.
Zimbabwe XI: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza(capt), Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza.
