Zimbabwe pulled off a stunning 25-run victory over Bangladesh on Monday, defending a meager 141 at Harare Sports Club to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The collapse deepens a tour-long batting crisis for the visitors, who folded for just 116 in 33.1 overs.
Chasing 142 looked like a formality, but Bangladesh’s top order disintegrated almost instantly. Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava tore through the lineup, reducing the visitors to 17 for 3 inside five overs. Towhid Hridoy and Nurul Hasan temporarily stopped the bleeding with a 49-run fourth-wicket stand. But once Hridoy fell for 25 to Newman Nyamhuri, the resistance evaporated entirely. Brad Evans and Ngarava finished with three wickets each to wrap up the tail.
The shocking defeat completely overshadowed a historic individual performance from Bangladeshi fast bowler Nahid Rana. He decimated Zimbabwe’s top order earlier in the day, taking 6 for 21 in his 10 overs. That spectacular spell officially broke Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s legendary 2006 national bowling record of 6 for 26 against Kenya. This was Nahid’s third five-wicket haul in just 14 ODI innings, making him the second-fastest Bangladeshi to reach that milestone behind Mustafizur Rahman.
Nahid’s early brilliance had Zimbabwe reeling at 70 for 8 inside 20 overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s decision to bowl first seemed like a masterstroke. Then came the gritty fightback. Nyamhuri, who top-scored with 33, and captain Ngarava, who added 27, staged a desperate 63-run partnership for the ninth wicket. They dragged the hosts to 141 before being bowled out in 36.4 overs. Nyamhuri’s all-around effort earned him Player of the Match honors.