HARARE, Aug 4: Gregory Strydom scored his maiden half-century to guide Zimbabwe to a series-clinching win over Bangladesh in the fourth One-day International on Friday.
Disciplined bowling helped Zimbabwe restrict Bangladesh, who won the toss and chose to bat, to a mediocre total of 206.
In reply, the home side scored 212 for three in 41.4 overs to cruise to victory by seven wickets.
The result gave Zimbabwe an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, which ends in Harare on Sunday.
Strydom, who hit a lusty 58 off as many balls with eight fours and a six, began his assault in the 13th over after Vusi Sibanda and Terrence Duffin had launched Zimbabwe's reply with an opening stand of 57.
Fast bowler Farhad Reza bowled Sibanda off the edge of his bat for 46 in the 22nd over, which brought Hamilton Masakadza to the crease to share 66 runs for the third wicket with Strydom.
The partnership was halted when Masakadza, on 19, retired hurt with a nosebleed.
Strydom was dismissed five balls later by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak when he sent a leading edge looping to midwicket, where Mohammad Ashraful took the catch.
Stuart Matsikenyeri and Brendan Taylor completed the job for Zimbabwe with a brisk stand of 53.
Shahriar Nafees top-scored for Bangladesh with 45, and their only substantial partnership was the 52 runs that Shahriar and Aftab Ahmed added for the second wicket.
Off-spinner Prosper Utseya, the Zimbabwe skipper, tied the visitors down and took two for 25, while leg-spinner Masakadza was less accurate but also effective for his return of two for 36.
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH:
Rajin Saleh c Matsikenyeri b Rainsford 11
Shahriar Nafees b Masakadza 45
Aftab Ahmed c Utseya b Masakadza 27
Mohammad Ashraful run out 6
Alok Kapali c Sibanda b Utseya 10
Farhad Reza run out 30
Khaled Mashud c Rainsford b Ireland 20
Mohammad Rafique c Sibanda b Utseya 0
Mashrafe Mortaza b Rainsford 23
Abdur Razzak not out 3
Shahadat Hossain not out 5
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, W-19, NB-2) 26
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 206
FALL OF WKTS: 1-21, 2-73, 3-82, 4-102, 5-137, 6-157, 7-160, 8-190, 9-197.
BOWLING: Rainsford 10-1-46-2 (1nb, 7w); Ireland 9-1-37-1 (1nb, 2w); Mahwire 5-0-30-0 (1w); Strydom 1-0-9-0 (3w); Masakadza 10-1-36-2 (1w); Utseya 10-0-25-2; Matsikenyeri 5-0-18-0 (1w).
ZIMBABWE:
V. Sibanda b Farhad 46
T. Duffin c Mashud b Rafique 24
G.M. Strydom c Ashraful b Razzak 58
H. Masakadza retired hurt 19
S. Matsikenyeri not out 26
B.R.M. Taylor not out 27
EXTRAS (LB-6, W-5, NB-1) 12
TOTAL (for three wkts, 41.4 overs) 212
FALL OF WKTS: 1-57, 2-91, 3-157, 4-159.
DID NOT BAT: E. Chigumbura, P. Utseya, N.B. Mahwire, E.C. Rainsford, A.J. Ireland.
BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 6-0-24-0 (1w); Shahadat Hossain 5-0-44-0 (1nb, 1w); Abdur Razzak 10-0-42-1 (2w); Mohammad Rafique 10-3-30-1 (1w); Farhad Reza 4-0-19-1; Alok Kapali 3.4-0-30-0; Rajin Saleh 3-0-17-0.
RESULT: Zimbabwe won by seven wickets..—
UMPIRES: R.B. Tiffin (Zimbabwe) and I.L. Howell (South Africa).
TV UMPIRE: I.D. Robinson (Zimbabwe).
MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Prosper Utseya.
—Reuters