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Stuart Matsikenyeri marked his return to international cricket since March 2005 with the innings of his career and Elton Chigumbara defied the odds to help Zimbabwe overhaul Bangladesh’s 247 and clinch a thriller here in stunning style on Saturday.

Matsikenyeri’s 89 in a record sixth-wicket stand of 114 with Chigumbara, whose reenactment of Cool Hand Luke was a class act, systematically broke down the Bangladeshis and resurrected the hosts from 50-4 to a two-wicket victory.

When Chigumbara pinched a single to keep strike for the final over, and then effortlessly heaved Shahadat Hossain over midwicket for four to send the devoted fans at the Harare Sports Club into rapturous applause, Zimbabwe had taken the first step towards redeeming themselves from a turbulent past season.

The sight of Chigumbara, draped in the national flag and engulfed by a sea of school children, was heartening. Given that this was an inexperienced Zimbabwean side, with an average age of a classroom lot out of the Dead Poets’ Society, the win would have been a shot of adrenalin, valium, and Prozac all in one.

Instead of pressing self destruct, like Zimbabwe have so often, Matsikenyeri and Chighumbara grabbed the innings by the reins in what will be remembered as a great win.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe won toss

Bangladesh

Javed Omar c Taylor b Mupariwa 8

Shahriar Nafees b Rainsford 78

Aftab Ahmed c Taylor b Mupariwa 0

Mohammad 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 (lb5, w7) 12

Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) 246

Did not bat: Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain

Fall: 1-15, 2-16, 3-75, 4-146, 5-185, 6-188, 7-238

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 Mortaza 1

H P Rinke c Mashud b Mortaza 10

H Masakadza c Ashraful b Shahadat 7

†B R M Taylor b Rafique 25

S Matsikenyeri c Mortaza b Shahadat 89

E Chigumbura not out 70

*P Utseya b Mortaza 8

R S Higgins lbw b Mortaza 0

T Mupariwa not out 1

Extras (lb4, w8, nb3) 15

Total (8 wkts, 49.1 overs) 248

To bat: E C Rainsford

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

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 2 wickets

Series: Zimbabwe leads 5-ODI series 1-0

Man of the Match: Stuart Matsikenyeri

Umpires: K C Barbour and I L Howell (South Africa). TV umpire: I D Robinson. Match referee: M J Procter (South Africa)

Remaining matches: Sunday (today) 2nd ODI, Harare. August 2 3rd ODI, Harare. August 4 4th ODI, Harare. August 6 5th ODI, Harare

Source:The News

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