DHAKA: Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 28 runs in the first one-day international to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday (Oct 21). Opener Imrul Kayes struck a career best 144 off 140 balls to guide Bangladesh to 271-8 before the hosts restricted Zimbabwe to 243-9 in 50 overs. Sean Williams made the highest score for Zimbabwe with 50 not out off 58 balls. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan claimed a career best 3-46 for Bangladesh. The visitors gave away a golden opportunity to control the game when they had the home side cornered at 139 for 6 in the 30th over. Imrul and Mohammad Saifuddin chose that moment to put on a record 127-run seventh-wicket stand to pull Bangladesh to formidable total, before the spinners applied the choke in time-honoured fashion, as the home team took a one-nil lead in the three-match series. During his career best knock, Imrul was involved in three crucial stands, the last of which was a rescue act. The home side had lost two wickets in the first six overs when Liton Das and debutant Fazle Mahmud fell in the same Tendai Chatara over. Imrul and Mushfiqur Rahim then added 49 runs for the third wicket to revive the innings. Kyle Jarvis, bowling his third spell, removed Mithun, Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan in the space of 13 balls. The 2 for 3 collapse should have been the end of Bangladesh’s positive approach but Imrul and Mohammad Saifuddin did not consume too many deliveries to first steady the innings and then pick up the ante in the last ten overs that saw the home team add 85. For Zimbabwe, Jarvis led the way with the ball, finishing with four for 37, while Chatara took three wickets and Mavuta got one. With 272 to get, Hamilton Masakadza and Cephas Zhuwao gave Zimbabwe early impetus. Zhuwao struck three fours in the first five overs before he slammed Hasan for a massive six that landed well beyond the long-on boundary rope. But with his first ball, Mustafizur Rahman forced through Zhuwao’s defensive prod, ending his cameo on 35. In the face of consistent bowling from the home side, Zimbabwe imploded thereafter. Published in Daily Times, October 22nd 2018.