HARARE, July 29: Stuart Matsikenyeri struck a career best 89 from 101 balls to take Zimbabwe to victory over Bangladesh in the first One-day International on Saturday.
Zimbabwe struck 248 for eight in reply to Bangladesh's 246 for seven to win by two wickets with five balls to spare.
Matsikenyeri scored a feisty 89 off 101 balls with seven fours and a six. His previous highest score was the 73 he made against England in Bulawayo in 2004-05.
Matsikenyeri and Elton Chigumbura shared a matchwinning stand of 114 after Zimbabwe's top order had failed.
Chigumbura clipped his unbeaten 70 off 68 balls with six fours and a six.
Opener Shahriar Nafees faced 116 balls and hit seven fours and a six in his 78, Bangladesh's top score.
Pace bowler Tawanda Mupariwa took four for 61, improving on the career-best figures of three for 19 he took against Bermuda in Trinidad in May.
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH:
Javed Omar c Taylor b Mupariwa 8
Shahriar Nafees b Rainsford 78
Aftab Ahmed c Taylor b Mupariwa 0
M. Ashraful c Higgins b Masakadza 25
Habibul Bashar c Chibhabha b Mupariwa 40
Alok Kapali st Taylor b Masakadza 23
Mohammad Rafique b Mupariwa 39
Khaled Mashud not out 14
Mashrafe Mortaza not out 7
EXTRAS (LB-5, W-7) 12
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 246
FALL OF WKTS: 1-15, 2-16, 3-75, 4-146, 5-185, 6-188, 7-238