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| October 14, 2006 | Saturday | Ramazan 20, 1427 |
Nafees stars in Bangladesh’s consolation win
JAIPUR, Oct 13: Banlgadesh rode on Shahriar Nafees's record-smashing century to post a consolation 101-run victory over Zimbabwe in a Champions Trophy qualifying match here on Friday.
The left-handed opener slammed a solid 123 not out as bottom-placed Bangladesh posted 231-6 before dismissming Zimbabwe for 130 in the day-night game for their maiden win in the tournament.
Zimbabwe and Bangladesh were already knocked out of the main tournament after suffering two defeats in as many matches against Sri Lanka and the West Indies in the four-team qualifying round.
Habibul Bashar's side salvaged some of their pride, thanks to Nafees who became the first Bangladeshi to score two hundreds in one-day ineternationals.
The 20-year-old, recently named Bangladesh's Cricketer of the Year, also became his country's highest scorer in one-day internationals, surpassing his own unbeaten 118 against Zimbabwe at Harare two months ago.
Zimbabwe never looked like achieving the target, losing wickets at regular intervals to suffer their third successive defeat. They were virtually out of the game when they lost five wickets for 88 runs.
Opener Brendan Taylor alone offered some resistance with a 74-ball 52 for his 10th half-century.
Left-arm spinner Saqibul Hasan finished with a career-best haul of 3-18 off 10 tight overs, while spinners Mohammad Rafique and Abdur Razzak grabbed two wickets each.
“Our spinners did a good job defending the total. Things went according to plan today,” said Bashar.
The day belonged to Nafees, who held the innings together after two wickets had fallen for 26. He put on 83 for the third wicket with Saqibul (36) and 81 for the next with Bashar (30).
He played cautiously in the beginning but went for big shots after reaching his half-century off 92 deliveries. He took 51 more balls to complete his hundred. His lone six came off spinner Prosper Utseya.
Nafees's late flourish also saw Bangladesh score 70 in the closing 10 overs.
Bashar, who had failed to score in the previous two games, provided valuable support. He hit four boundaries in his 40-ball knock. Seamers Ed Rainsford and Anthony Ireland each grabbed two wickets.
Sri Lanka and the West Indies have already qualified for the main draw that features world champions Australia, India, England, South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan.
Scoreboard
Bangladesh
Rajin Saleh lbw b Rainsford 6
Shahriar Nafees not out 123
Aftab Ahmed c Taylor b Ireland 3
Saqibul Hasan c Rainsford b Kamungozi 36
Habibul Bashar b Rainsford 30
Farhad Reza c Utseya b Ireland 0
Mashrafe Mortaza c Chigumbura b Brent 6
Mohammad Rafique not out 10
EXTRAS: (LB-8, NB-1, W-8) 17
TOTAL: (for 6 wkts, 50 overs) 231
FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-26, 3-109, 4-190, 5-197, 6-211
BOWLING: Rainsford 10-3-41-2 (w4), Ireland 9-1-45-2 (nb1, w3), Brent 7-0-28-1, Chigumbura 5-0-21-0, Utseya 9-1-50-0, Kamungozi 10-0-38-1 (w1).
Zimbabwe
C. Chibhabha lbw b Mortaza 16
B.R Taylor st Mashud b Saqibul 52
H. Masakadza run out 2
G. Strydom b Rafique 4
S. Matsikenyeri run out 9
E. Chigumbura c and b Saqibul 27
G. Brent c Bashar b Saqibul 10
P. Utseya b Razzak 3
A. Ireland b Rafique 1
E. Rainsford not out 2
T. Kamungozi b Razzak 0
EXTRAS: (B-1,LB-3) 4
TOTAL: (all out, 44.4 overs) 130
FALL OF WKTS: 1-26, 2-35, 3-61, 4-78, 5-88, 6-123, 7-123, 8-127, 9-130
BOWLING: Mortaza 7-2-16-1, Reza 6-0-34-0, Razzak 6.4-2-12-2, Rafique 10-1-26-2, Saqibul 10-1-18-3, Hossain 3-0-12-0, Saleh 2-0-8-0.
Result: Bangladesh win by 101 runs
Man of the match: Shahriar Nafees (BAN)
Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WEST INDIES) and Daryl Harper (AUSTRALIA)
TV umpire: Simon Taufel (AUSTRALIA)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI LANKA)
Next match: SRI LANKA vs WEST INDIES at Mumbai on Oct 14.—AFP
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