The coordinated fall of wickets

Bangladesh found a new way to confound their fans: they lost two wickets each with the score on 158, 173 and 204. It amounted to a collapse, the home side losing 6 for 46 in just over 10 overs. Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman making ducks made the coincidence easier while Tafadzwa Kamungozi taking two wickets off consecutive deliveries added to the trivia.

Shakib's elevation to No. 3 looked logical when he walked in at 158 for 1 in the 34th over. But he fell first ball, trying to turn part-timer Vusi Sibanda for a single on the on side. He missed the ball, getting out for his fourth golden duck in ODIs, in the first instance of batting at No. 3 in the format.

In the 43rd over, the atmosphere at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium suddenly flared up. While turning to take the second run, Mushfiqur Rahim had to evade Tendai Chatara who was eyeing the throw from the square-leg fielder. Mushfiqur avoided a collision with the bowler and completed the second but immediately turned around and had some choiced words for Chatara, while pointing his bat. The umpires and Sikandar Raza stepped in, though the ugliness of the incident wasn't lost.

Anamul Haque ended his knock of 80 when he cut a poor Tinashe Panyangara delivery towards point, where Vusi Sibanda jumped to take a superb catch. He leapt to his right to complete the effort in the air, much to the bowler's delight who did the customary Zimbabwean jig.

Mahmudullah took two good catches early in the Zimbabwe chase. First he ran and dived backwards from short cover after Sikandar Raza top-edged a Mashrafe Mortaza short ball. The second catch was much better, as he would have been blindsided by Mushfiqur. Brendan Taylor's reverse sweep took the glove, then Mushfiqur's shoulder before popping towards Mahmudullah at slip. His grab at the ball was well-timed.

Shakib returned to the bowling attack in the 36th over and instantly removed Solomon Mire before ending up bowling a wicket maiden. It raised the required run rate from 7.46 to 8. Elton Chigumbura replied in earnest, taking 18 off the next over bowled by Mortaza, which brought the required run rate back down to 7.23 per over. Shakib gave away just a single in his next over, taking the required rate to 7.75 again.