ZImbabwe v Bangladesh

At Harare, March 14, 2004. Zimbabwe won by three wickets. Toss: Bangladesh.

Both sides began with century opening partnerships and both then suffered dramatic collapses. But Zimbabwe managed to pull out of their nosedive just in time, with the burly figure of Streak again proving the difference between the sides. Zimbabwe looked in trouble as Hannan Sarkar and the stand-in opener Manjural Islam Rana put on 105, helped by several missed chances. But then Bangladesh imploded, scuppered by loose shots under pressure and a couple of dubious umpiring decisions. Streak, testing but luckless in his opening spell, finished off the innings. In reply, Zimbabwe looked on course with an opening stand of 112, but their own fall was even more spectacular, six wickets tumbling for 12 runs. Khaled Mahmud took four, reflecting accuracy and enthusiasm rather than hostility. But, with 60 still needed, Streak stood firm, guiding his team to a series victory that would have been unlikely without him.

Man of the Match: Khaled Mahmud. Man of the Series: H. H. Streak.