Zimbabwe Stun Bangladesh with 25-Run Victory in Harare

News Desk

Harare: Newman Nyamhuri produced an all-round performance to remember as Zimbabwe stunned Bangladesh by 25 runs in Harare, successfully defending a modest total of 141 in a low-scoring ODI dominated by fast bowlers.

Nyamhuri rescued Zimbabwe with a career-best 33 from No. 9 before starring with the ball and in the field, while stand-in captain Richard Ngarava made key contributions with both bat and ball to seal an unlikely victory.

Zimbabwe looked headed for a batting collapse after slumping from 36 without loss to 70 for 8. However, Nyamhuri and Ngarava stitched together a crucial 63-run ninth-wicket partnership that lifted the hosts to 141, giving their bowlers something to defend.

Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana was the standout performer with the ball, claiming a career-best 6 for 21 as Zimbabwe’s middle order crumbled. Taskin Ahmed chipped in with two wickets, but the visitors were unable to capitalise on their dominant bowling display.

Chasing 142, Bangladesh’s innings never gathered momentum as Zimbabwe’s seam attack exploited the lively Harare surface. Openers Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto fell cheaply before Soumya Sarkar also departed early, leaving the visitors reeling at 17 for 3.

Towhid Hridoy and Nurul Hasan briefly steadied the innings with a 49-run fourth-wicket partnership, but Nyamhuri broke the stand by dismissing Hridoy for 25, triggering another collapse.

From 66 for 3, Bangladesh lost seven wickets for just 50 runs to be bowled out for 116 in 33.1 overs.

Ngarava, leading Zimbabwe in an ODI for the first time, finished with figures of 3 for 31, while Luke Jongwe Evans claimed 3 for 34. Nyamhuri added two wickets to his impressive day after also taking two excellent catches in the deep, including a brilliant boundary effort to dismiss Tanzid Hasan.

Blessing Muzarabani struck early to remove both Tanzid and Shanto, ensuring Bangladesh remained under pressure throughout the chase.

The match was played entirely by pace bowlers, with neither side using a spinner as seamers exploited the bounce and movement on offer.

Zimbabwe’s remarkable comeback was built on the resilience of Nyamhuri and Ngarava with the bat before their disciplined bowling attack completed one of the team’s most memorable victories, overcoming Bangladesh despite posting just 141 on the board.