Brad Evans and Ben Curran Lead Zimbabwe to ODI Series Victory Against Bangladesh

Ben Curran and Brad Evans led the Zimbabwe team to a 13-run win and helped them register a victory in the second ODI against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club. The Zimbabwe team batted first after Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and elected to field first.

The start for Zimbabwe was not good as they lost early wickets. Brian Bennett got out in the first over, Innocent Kaia in the third over, and Craig Ervine in the ninth over. The wickets of Zimbabwe were falling from one end, and after 10 overs, Zimbabwe were at 37/3. Ben Curran held one end of the innings for Zimbabwe. Curran was scoring runs from one end, taking singles and doubles, and hitting fours and sixes on loose deliveries.

In the 17th over, Wessly Madhevere got out, and Sikandar Raza joined Ben Curran. Sikandar Raza struggled to score runs from one end, but Curran was hitting boundaries, taking doubles, and putting runs on the board. In the 23.3rd over, Ben Curran scored his fifty in just 58 balls, while Sikandar Raza settled on the crease. The partnership ended in the 33rd over when Sikandar Raza was dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 33 (53). Clive Madande and Ben Curran were then at the crease, but in the 37th over, Clive Madande was dismissed by Rishad Hossain.

Brad Evans and Ben Curran, the star players of the match, started their partnership in the 38th over, with Ben Curran on 77* (93). He had single-handedly carried the innings till that stage. Brad Evans and Ben Curran finished the innings strongly in the death overs, taking Zimbabwe to 247/6. Ben Curran reached his century in the 46th over. In the last over of the innings, Zimbabwe were at 225/6 after 49 overs when Brad Evans took charge. He hit three sixes and one four and reached his maiden ODI fifty. Brad Evans then completely changed the game. He played attacking cricket from the start and gave Curran the support he needed.

Brad Evans and Ben Curran Led Zimbawe to 2-0 Series Win

Bangladesh started the chase well, even after losing Soumya Sarkar for just 5 runs in the fifth over. Tanzid Hasan Tamim played with confidence and kept the scoreboard moving by hitting regular boundaries. He built an important 84-run partnership with Towhid Hridoy for the third wicket. Tamim reached his half-century in 59 balls and scored 57 runs from 70 balls, with five fours and one six, before Brian Bennett dismissed him in the 28th over.

Towhid Hridoy stayed at the crease and continued the chase with Nurul Hasan. Hridoy scored a steady 60 runs from 90 balls with five fours, while Nurul made a useful 38 runs from 41 balls. Mehidy Hasan Miraz also added 27 runs from 33 balls. After 40 overs, Bangladesh needed only 57 runs from the last 10 overs and still had five wickets in hand. At that stage, Bangladesh looked set to win the match.

But Zimbabwe made a strong comeback in the final overs. Wessly Madhevere gave his team a big wicket by dismissing Hridoy. Soon after, Richard Ngarava got Mosaddek Hossain out for 7 and later removed Nurul Hasan for 38. Brad Evans bowled Shoriful Islam for 6, while Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain. Bangladesh kept losing wickets and could not finish the chase. They were bowled out for 234 in 48.1 overs, falling just 13 runs short of the target.

Richard Ngarava was Zimbabwe’s best bowler with 3 wickets for 55 runs. Blessing Muzarabani took 2 wickets for 33 runs, while Brad Evans also picked up 2 wickets and took two catches. Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza, and Wessly Madhevere took one wicket each as Zimbabwe completed a brilliant comeback to win the match and seal the ODI series 2-0.