Nahid Rana produced a record-breaking spell with the ball, but Bangladesh suffered one of their most embarrassing One Day International defeats as they were bowled out for 116 while chasing just 142 against Zimbabwe in the three-match series opener at Harare Sports Club on Monday.
The 25-run defeat marked Bangladesh’s lowest unsuccessful run chase in an ODI where the full 50 overs were available, while Zimbabwe successfully defended their fourth-lowest total in the format.
Earlier, Rana ripped through the Zimbabwe batting line-up with career-best figures of 6-21, the best by a Bangladeshi in ODI history.
The tearaway pacer surpassed Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s long-standing record of 6-26 against Kenya in 2006 and similar figures by Rubel Hossain against New Zealand in 2013, and claimed his third five-wicket haul in just 14 ODIs.
All three have come this year, making him only the second Bangladeshi after Mustafizur Rahman to take three ODI five-fors in a calendar year.
Zimbabwe made a steady start through Brian Bennett and Ben Curran before Mehidy Hasan Miraz changed the course of the innings with a direct-hit run-out to dismiss Curran for 18.
Taskin Ahmed then struck twice in quick succession, removing Bennett for 17 and clean bowling Craig Ervine as the hosts slipped to 38-3.
Rana took over from there. Introduced in the ninth over, he dismissed Sikandar Raza with his first breakthrough before removing Wessly Madhevere and Clive Madande in quick succession.
He then had Innocent Kaia caught behind and trapped Brad Evans leg before wicket to complete a five-wicket haul as Zimbabwe collapsed to 70-8.
Richard Ngarava and Newman Nyamhuri, however, frustrated Bangladesh with a resilient 63-run stand for the ninth wicket, Zimbabwe’s highest against Bangladesh.
Rana eventually returned to bowl Ngarava for 27 before Miraz dismissed Nyamhuri for a team-best 33 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 141 in 36.4 overs.
Bangladesh’s reply never gathered momentum.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim became the first casualty after being caught on the deep square-leg boundary off Blessing Muzarabani.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Soumya Sarkar both perished attempting aggressive shots, while Towhid Hridoy briefly steadied the innings before falling to Nyamhuri.
Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Miraz and Nurul Hasan Sohan also failed to convert their starts as Zimbabwe tightened their grip. Nurul, trapped in front by Brad Evans, was the last recognised batter to depart, leaving the tail with an impossible task.
With wickets falling at regular intervals and no meaningful partnership developing, Bangladesh were eventually dismissed for 116 in 33.1 overs, turning what had appeared to be a comfortable chase into a stunning collapse.
Captain Ngarava and Evans took three wickets each while Muzarabani and Nyamhuri grabbed two wickets each to complete Zimbabwe’s domination.
The defeat wasted a memorable individual performance from Rana, whose historic six-wicket haul deserved to end on the winning side but instead became a footnote in one of Bangladesh’s most disappointing batting displays in recent memory.
