HARARE, Feb 5: Zimbabwe crashed to their 13th successive one-day defeat when they were beaten by 45 runs by Bangladesh in the opening game of a four-match One-day International series at the Harare Sports Club here on Sunday.
Set 261 to win, the home side slumped to 215 all out.
Top scorer was Justice Chibhabha, who contributed 57, while Vusi Sibanda made 46, but their partnership of 72 from 132 balls was made at a painfully slow rate and put the home side well behind the required rate.
It was captain Habibul Bashar who set up the Bangladesh innings in the first place with 78 off 87 balls and by Saqibul Hasan with 68.
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH:
Shahriar Nafees run out 34
Mehrab Hossain Jr c Masakadza b Ireland 12
Aftab Ahmed c Masakadza b Chigumbura 31
Saqibul Hasan c Williams b Brent 68
Habibul Bashar c Chigumbura b Ireland 78
M. Ashraful c Mufambisi b Mpofu 22
Mohammad Rafique b Ireland 3
Mashrafe Mortaza c Brent b Mpofu 1
Mushfiqur Rahim run out 1
Abdur Razzak not out 1
Shahadat Hossain not out 0
EXTRAS (B-2, LB-6, W-1) 9
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 260
FALL OF WKTS: 1-34, 2-68, 3-93, 4-198, 5-248, 6-255, 7-256, 8-258, 9-260.