Shoriful Takes Four as Bangladesh Dismiss Zimbabwe for 199

Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam produced a superb spell of 4-44 as the visitors bowled Zimbabwe out for 199 in 48.1 overs in the third and final ODI at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Wessly Madhevere top-scored with a fluent 75 off 74 balls, while Brad Evans chipped in with a fighting 50 from 43 deliveries to help Zimbabwe recover after an early collapse.

Having already sealed the three-match series 2-0, Zimbabwe rested regular captain Richard Ngarava and frontline pacer Blessing Muzarabani. Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and opted to field first.

Bangladesh made two changes to the side, recalling Mohammad Saifuddin for his first ODI appearance since 2021 after he replaced the injured Mustafizur Rahman in the squad. Spinner Tanvir Islam also came in for Rishad Hossain, while Nahid Rana was left out.

The visitors made an ideal start as Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed struck early with the new ball.

Ben Curran, who scored a century in the second ODI, was dismissed for just 2 after Shoriful's delivery rolled back onto the stumps. Taskin then removed Brian Bennett for 6, forcing an outside edge to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 17-2 inside seven overs.

Bangladesh's bowlers kept the pressure on with disciplined lines. Saifuddin conceded only eight runs in his opening five-over spell while extracting movement both off the pitch and through the air.

Shoriful struck again in the 13th over, dismissing Craig Ervine for 5 as wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan took the catch behind, reducing Zimbabwe to 27-3.

Madhevere then launched a counterattack, mixing crisp boundaries with quick singles, while Innocent Kaia struggled to score freely at the other end.

Taskin returned to break the stand, removing Kaia for 25 with a sharp bouncer that Tanvir Islam held comfortably at square leg. Zimbabwe slipped to 78-4 in the 27th over.

Sikandar Raza briefly looked dangerous before Tanvir deceived him with a slower delivery. Saifuddin completed the catch at short fine leg as Raza departed for 11, leaving Zimbabwe at 107-5.

Shoriful continued his impressive spell by dismissing Clive Madande for 1 in the following over after another edge carried to Nurul Hasan.

Brad Evans, fresh from an unbeaten 58 in the previous match, once again tried to rescue Zimbabwe. He added 43 runs with Madhevere before Tanvir ended the partnership, dismissing the opener for a career-best 75, an innings featuring five fours and a six.

Evans kept fighting, adding useful partnerships with Wellington Masakadza and Ernest Masuku. Masakadza was run out by Towhid Hridoy before Evans reached his second ODI half-century.

Shoriful wrapped up Evans' innings with a well-directed bouncer in his final over, dismissing him for 50 off 43 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Saifuddin then removed Masuku for 2 to end the innings at 199 in 48.1 overs.

Shoriful finished as Bangladesh's standout bowler with figures of 4-44, while Taskin Ahmed and Tanvir Islam picked up two wickets each. Saifuddin claimed one wicket, returning 1-31.