DHAKA, Jan 20: Fast bowler Douglas Hondo grabbed three wickets in four overs to bowl Zimbabwe to a 22-run victory over Bangladesh in the first one-day international on Thursday.

Chasing a stiff 252-run target on a slow pitch, Bangladesh were all out for 229 in the day-night game to concede a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Earlier, Zimbabwe overcame a poor start to post a competitive total as middle-order batsmen Brendan Taylor (58) and Hamilton Masakadza (54) slammed half-centuries.

Bangladesh, who had never chased more than 237 to win a one-dayer, were well-placed at 119-2 in the 27th over before losing their way under lights. Mohammad Ashraful (42), Rajin Saleh (40) and Bashar (39) were the main contributors, but Bangladesh were always behind the asking rate as they needed 53 to win with three wickets in hand in the last five overs.

Khaled Mahmud scored a 30-ball 34 and tail-ender Tapash Baisya an unbeaten 33 off 26 deliveries in the closing overs. Man-of-the-match Hondo wrecked the middle order, dismissing Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali and Khaled Mashud to finish with 3-36.

Zimbabwe were earlier struggling at 14-2 after electing to bat before Taylor and Masakadza propped up the innings with half-centuries. Elton Chigumbura then built on the duo's efforts with a 32-ball 41 in the closing overs. He was later barred from bowling in his last over for sending down a second beamer.

Masakadza steadied the innings with a 70-run stand for the third wicket with Stuart Matsikenyeri after Zimbabwe had lost Barney Rogers and Dion Ebrahim in the opening three overs.

Seamer Mahmud broke the stand when he dismissed Matsikenyeri (33) for his 61st victim, the highest by a Bangladeshi bowler in one-dayers. Mahmud got one more wicket when he removed Masakadza, who inside-edged the delivery on to his stumps after cracking 10 fours in his second half-century.

Zimbabwe were 107-4 following Mahmud's twin-strike, but Taylor came to his team's rescue with a 65-run stand for the fifth wicket with Taibu (28).

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