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

DID NOT BAT: Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain

BOWLING: Rainsford 10-1-35-1 (3w), Mupariwa 10-1-61-4, Rinke 7-0-36-0, Masakadza 5-0-33-2 (2w), Utseya 10-0-35-0, Higgins 7-0-34-0 (2w), Matsikenyeri 1-0-7-0

ZIMBABWE:

V. Sibanda b Shahadat 22

C.J. Chibhabha c Javed b Mashrafe 1

H. Rinke c Khaled Mashud b Mashrafe 10

H. Masakadza c Ashraful b Shahadat 7

B.R.M. Taylor b Rafique 25

S. Matsikenyeri c Mashrafe b Shahadat 89

E.. Chigumbura not out 70

P. Utseya b Mashrafe 8

R.S. Higgins lbw b Mashrafe 0

T. Mupariwa not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-8, NB-3) 15

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 49.1 overs) 248

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-38, 3-50, 4-50, 5-101, 6-215, 7-242, 8-242

DID NOT BAT: E.C. Rainsford

BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-1-41-4 (3w); Shahadat Hossain 10-3-34-3 (3nb, 3w); Abdur Razzak 10-1-49-0 (2w); Aftab Ahmed 2.1-0-17-0, Mohammad Rafique 10-0-50-1; Alok Kapali 5-0-36-0, Mohammad Ashraful 2-0-17-0.

RESULT: Zimbabwe won by two wickets.

UMPIRES: K.C. Barbour (Zimbabwe) and I.L. Howell (South Africa).

TV UMPIRE: I.D. Robinson (Zimbabwe).

MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Stuart Matsikenyeri.—Agencies

Opinion

Respite needed

Respite needed

All one can fear is a familiar accounting exercise that aims to extract a few more rupees from a narrow, weary economic base.

Editorial

Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...
JAAC ban
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

JAAC ban

Though the JAAC’s demands are open to scrutiny, banning any political organisation — as long as it remains committed to peaceful activism — is undemocratic.
GB election
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

GB election

It is important that whichever party ultimately forms the government puts the needs of the people of GB above everything else.
ODI win
07 Jun, 2026

ODI win

AT last, the Pakistan cricket team had something to celebrate: a One-day International series victory against...