punched to third man, and there comes the win. Opens the bat face to this good length ball outside off, and places it to the right of point and beyond the third man fielder's left. With that, Bangladesh take the match and the series
Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh, 2nd ODI at Harare, ZIM v BDESH, Jul 18 2021 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Bangladesh won by 3 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
An exciting finish in the end. The experience of Shakib and the maturity of Saifuddin made all the difference, but don't forget the four wickets by Shoriful, which helped restrict Zimbabwe to 240. And the hosts - like in the Test and the first ODI - had their moments, but couldn't capitalise on them. Too many extras didn't help either. But anyway, catch us for the final game with Zimbabwe seeking crucial Super League points, if not the series. Until then, it's a goodbye from Chandan, Ranjith, Sreshth and me, Himanshu!
joynul: "Experience, the difference between these two teams today was just Experience."
Tamim, the winning captain: "Restricting them to 240 was a decent job by the bowlers. We definitely had some plans, and as a batting team, we could have done better. They way Shakib and Saifuddin batted was nice to see."
Shakib is the Player of the Match for his 2 for 42 and 96*: "Today was the day I had to put my hands up. Very happy... Lot of credit to Saifuddin, he showed a lot of composure. Today the wicket was slower. If the bowlers were bowling straight into the wicket, you had to take chances, which is where we lost wickets."
Here's Taylor after a close loss for his side: "Much improved performance, but Bangladesh didn't look like panicking and held their nerve. There are fine lines you talk about.. hope the last game goes our way."
Time for the presentations
Shapla: "Everyone talking about Shakib while Saifuddin made a good contribution "
Jack: "Zimbabwe only have themselves to blame with this loss after giving away all those wides."
5.17pm It was a very calm knock from an experienced Shakib, and he eventually takes his side home. Not dissimilar to MS Dhoni's finishing: never fussed for boundaries, happy to keep rotating the strike when required and finding gaps for crucial runs to complete the chase. He finishes just four short of a hundred, but will be pleased to have done the job.
Muzarabani has to defend 3 in the last over
inside edge for four to the left of short fine leg, and that may be it. Made room to this very full on off, and went for the drive to the off side. But he gets an inside edge to instead pocket four to fine leg
good yorker on middle and off, and dragged to point after making room
comes down and exposes his stumps. The bowler follows him to go on a good length wide of leg, as it is tucked to square leg
Mid-off drops back to long-off
slower ball on a full length on off, and his push to the man at cover means it's a dot for Zimbabwe
9 to win from 10
very full and straighter on off. Dug out to extra cover from deep in his crease
short of a length outside off and slammed to mid-off, who throws at the bowler's end. Jongwe seemed to have hurt himself there, but looks fine now
Around the wicket
slower ball on a full length down the leg, and that's another wide with the batter going across to let that go
Chatara back. Over the wicket
12 to win from 12 balls. Still anybody's game
Ruhak: "Excellent presence of mind showed by Shakib for that 3rd run there. These always matter! "
change of pace on a full length on leg, as the ball trickles to the off side. He missed his flick, and there was a leg-before appeal. But the ball was always sliding down leg there
shortish length on off, and cut to deep point. Shakib into the 90s
Jongwe at third man runs to his left, and throws to the bowler's end but the batters still sneak a third with the boundary being longer there. He just glanced this good length ball on off, and they always wanted the third
short, and a slower ball on middle and leg. He swivels with this pull, but that's gone straight to fine leg
full and pretty wide of off. Shakib tries to slash at that away going ball, and it's another wide
uppishly pushed to mid-off, but just short. Came down to this good length ball on off, and tried to slice but got it from higher on the bat
good bounce and just past the outside edge. Good length delivery on middle, and angles away a touch as he tries to poke but is beaten
Long-off now in, and mid-on drops back to long-on
Nayeem: "Nail biter....."
taps this full ball on middle to point, while the ball also angles in. He wants a single, but is sent back
Man at square leg inside the circle, and one at short fine leg too
fuller length on middle and off, clipped carefully to midwicket, with the bowler giving the chase to his left
opens the bat face to this full ball just outside off, but finds point
fullish length on middle, pushed to deep midwicket
Short third man gets a hand, but it is dropped in the end. Shakib slashed this good length ball wide of off, and got a top edge. Ngarava leaps, but can only get his left hand to that. A brilliant effort there, since it wasn't an easy catch
full ball and wide of off. Shakib lets that go, and that's a wide ball. Another extra from Zimbabwe
good length ball on middle, and tucked to square leg by stepping across
Jongwe back into the attack, around the wicket. He has two wickets so far
Arun: "A slam bam going around in Leeds and Colombo while a low scorer going around here in Harare. Sunday at it's best!!!" --- And this is a thriller too, mind you.