Bangladesh Level Series With Six-Wicket Win

Second One Day International, Mirpur

An unbeaten half-century from Roqibul Hassan guided Bangladesh to a comfortable six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second One Day International in Mirpur, levelling the three-match series at 1-1 after the home side's pace bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to just 160 for nine...

They were able to get there thanks to a crucial eighth wicket partnership of 96 between Sean Williams and captain Prosper Utseya but after Zimbabwe's top order failed, Bangladesh's held firm to ease them home...

The new opening partnership of Tamim Iqbal (21) and Mehrab Hossain junior (43) put on 32 for the first wicket before Tamim was bowled by Tawanda Mupariwa and captain Mohammad Ashraful made five before he was caught by Prosper Utseya off of Ed Rainsford...

Roqibul added 52 for the third wicket with Mehrab, who was caught by Utseya off of Ray Price but contributions of 22 from Shakib Al Hasan and 13 not out from Mushfiqur Rahim were enough to guided Bangladesh to victory in the 46th over...

Roqibul faced 100 balls, hitting seven fours, reaching a fifth ODI half-century.

Earlier, Williams and Utseya came together with their side in trouble on 47 for six when Max Waller departed as Bangladesh decided to field first, a decision that their pace bowling attack backed up with six wickets inside the first 19 overs although Williams' half-century kept the tourists fighting...

Although opening bowler Mashrafe Mortaza went wicketless in his opening spell, he contributed to the run outs of Stuart Matsikenyeri (10) and Williams (59) after Nazmul Hossain and Rubel Hossain had combined to leave Zimbabwe's top order reeling.

Nazmul (3-28) had opener Vusi Sibanda trapped in front for seven, fellow opener Hamilton Masakadza caught by Rubel Hossain for 17 and he bowled Elton Chigumbura for one...

Rubel Hossain (2-29) had wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu caught by Mehrab Hossain for three and he bowled Waller.

Williams then hit three fours and a six in his 89-ball innings of 59, combining well with his captain Utseya to help give his bowlers something to work with in the second innings...

Mortaza finally got in the wickets when he had Utseya trapped in front for a career-best 38 in 102 balls in the final over, and he followed that up by bowling Price for seven with the final ball of the innings, finishing with two for 22 as Mupariwa was unbeaten on one...

Zimbabwe led the three-match series 1-0 after a two-wicket win in the opening match two days ago...