Half-centuries from Murshida Khatun and Fargana Hoque give Bangladesh series win

Murshida Khatun and Fargana Hoque struck unbeaten half-centuries as Bangladesh Women trounced Zimbabwe Women by nine wickets in the second ODI and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Set a target of 122, Murshida and Hoque added 115 for the second wicket - the second-highest stand for Bangladesh in ODIs - and wrapped up the chase in 24.3 overs.

Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe opted to bat after winning the toss but didn't have a great start as Jahanara Alam dismissed debutant Sharne Mayers on the first ball of the match. In the next over, Salma Khatun bowled Ashley Ndiraya, also for a duck, to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 2 for 2. Captian Mary-Anne Musonda tried to stabilise the innings but she too couldn't last long and fell to Salma for 10.

Modester Mupachikwa and Christabel Chatonzwa dragged the side past 50 during their 34-run stand for the fourth wicket but both batters fell within two runs of each other, leaving Zimbabwe 58 for 5.

When Nahida Akter removed Precious Marange to make it 71 for 7, it started looking like the hosts will be bowled out for a sub-100 total for the second time in two games. Nyasha Gwanzura, though, hung around with the lower order, scoring an unbeaten 35 to ensure Zimbabwe reached 121. Along with Esther Mbofana, Gwanzura added 38 for the eighth wicket but despite her efforts Zimbabwe could last only 46.4 overs as Akter cleaned up the tail to finish with 3 for 30.

Bangladesh lost Sharmin Akhter early in the chase but Murshida and Hoque kept the Zimbabwe bowlers at bay and moved closer to their individual half-centuries. Murshida was the first to reach the milestone, her maiden ODI fifty coming from 63 balls. Hoque was on 49 off 67 balls when she hit Mbofana for four to bring up her seventh fifty as well as seal the game.