VITORI SHINES AS ZIM WIN FIRST ODI

GODFREY KOTI, Harare

BRIAN VITORI ‘s five wicket haul and tight bowling by Chris Mpofu ensured another venomous attack by Zimbabwe as they walked past a touring Bangladesh side by four wickets at Harare.
It was another good result for the resurgent locals who have had lady luck singing on their side lately. The massive all round performance that was witnessed in the Test match has continued for the hosts bringing their competitive mojo right back into the days of Heath Streak and Andy Flower.

Captain Brendon Taylor won the toss and sent Bangladesh in to bat with Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes opening the batting for the visitors, while Chris Mpofu and Vittori got the new ball.

Zimbabwe made their victory intentions clear as early as the fifth over when Vusi Sibanda just missed out on a run out opportunity. Sibanda missed the stumps with Kayes nowhere near the crease eventually making it back safely. One ball later Vitori got his first wicket of the innings when Iqbal mistimed his shot and lofted it into the waiting hands of Elton Chigumbura at mid on. Iqbal made four runs after facing 18 balls leaving the visitors seven runs for one.

The impressive Vitori struck again in the eighth over when he bowled Shahriah Nafees who was on 14 after facing 29 deliveries. Vittori’s delivery was both quick and swung immensely to beat Nafees and uprooted his off stump deeping the Tigers of Bangladesh in all sorts of trouble at 28 for two.

Vitori struck for the third time in the 14th over when he forced Mohammad Ashraful to play a short ball and was caught at fine leg by Mpofu. Ashraful did not trouble the scorers much as he only managed two runs from seven balls before being dismissed by the man of the moment.

Vitori continued to entertain the on lookers on his debut making history as the first Zimbabwean to pick up five wickets on his first outing. He trapped Imrul Kayes leg before wicket. Kayes was on eleven runs from 22 balls when he failed to deal with the debutante’s accurate bowling that was coupled with great swing and pace.
Elton Chigumbura was brought in and immediately made an impact. He delivered a short ball that Mahmudullah failed to deal with eventually skiing it into the hands of Hamilton Masakadza at third-man. It was by no means an easy catch as Masakadza had to stretch forward on the run to collect. Mahmadullah was out for five from 15 deliveries.

Bangladesh was floundering on 43 for five and appeared increasingly desperate to get runs on the board. The Tigers almost lost another wicket in the 29th over, but wicket keeper Tatenda Taibu fumbled a stumping chance allowing Shakib Al Hasan to land back safely after failing to apprehend with a Utseya ball.

Shakib and Shuhrawardi Shuvo went on to build a 105-run sixth partnership as the hosts attack failed to penetrate. It took a bold decision by Taylor to make the difference. He brought in Masakadza to bowl and the part timer broke the partnership when he dismissed Shakib who was on 53 runs and cruising. Shakib attempted to drive a slower ball but only succeeded in carrying it to Utseya at mid off.

Utseya picked up his 100th ODI wicket in 128 matches when he dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim for 59 off 91 balls after the latter was caught at deep mid off by Masakadza. Ray Price got the wicket of Abdur Razzak in the 45th over the all-rounder was caught on leg side by Taylor after attempting to play the glance shot.

Zimbabwe came in to bat and lost a quick wicket after Taylor was bowled by Shakib with only 10 runs on the board. Shakib managed to get the ball to turn on the flat wicket to beat Taylor who had come forward to attack missing the ball and being bowled at off stump to leave Zimbabwe at 26 for one.

Sibanda and Masakadza had a 86-run third wicket partnership before Masakadza was run out for 41 from 58 deliveries. They managed to score a fairly quick 86 from 111 balls and were 112 for two when Masakadza departed. Taibu came in at four, but only lasted two balls before being bowled out by Rubel Hossain to leave Zimbabwe on 124 for three. One ball later, new man Craig Ervine followed Taibu to the pavilion as he was caught behind by wicket keeper, Mushfiqur Rahim.

Sibanda and new man Forster Mutizwa steadied the ship and their partnership yielded 51 runs off 72 balls before the former miscued a attempted pull shot to be caught by Mahmadullah off Rubel Islam’s bowling. It brought a sad end to a knock as Sibanda departed for 96 runs off 102 balls.

Chigumbura was needlessly dismissed when he was caught only 3 runs on the board. The former captain was caught by Tamim off a Rubel leaving the hosts needing three for victory.Mutizwa eventually won the match for Zimbabwe with a well crafted 29 runs off 53 balls. He seemed to be looking for the big shot and the opportunity presented itself in the 42nd over when he cut a short ball to the boundary to give the hosts a four wicket victory.


Vitori was named man of the match for his five wicket haul.