Half-centuries from Aftab Ahmed and Mushfiqur Rahim helped guide Bangladesh to a nailbiting one wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international in Harare today.
Chasing 245 for victory after Elton Chigumbura's unbeaten 77 earlier on, Aftab and Mushfiqur put on 132 for the third-wicket to lead the charge for the visitors with the former brutally hammering 92 off just 77 deliveries to help clinch a 3-1 series win.
Earlier a superb innings by Chigumbura, was preceded by a century stand between Chamu Chibhabha and Sean Williams to help lay a good platform for the final onslaught which ended with the all-rounder's 57-ball knock.
The chase got off to a poor start and Bangladesh were three for one when Shahriar Nafees was caught behind by Brendan Taylor off Anthony Ireland for a duck.
Tamim Iqbal was next to go, caught by Vusi Sibanda off Edward Rainsford for 30 to leave the tourists at 40 for two.
Aftab and Mushfiqur then came together and took the score to 172 before the former was trapped leg before wicket by Ireland, eight short of a well deserved century.
Captain Prosper Utseya and Taylor then combined to bring about the demise of Mushfiqur, stumped for 57.
From that point it was anyone's game, but Saqibul Hasan (25) wrestled back the initiative before he offered a simple return catch to Christopher Mpofu, who followed that up with the wicket of Tushar Imran (nought), trapped plumb in front with three runs to get.
A further two wickets fell on 242, captain Habibul Bashar run out for 14 and Tapash Baisya (nought) caught by Terry Duffin off Mpofu, but it was too late as the visitors were within touching distance.
Abdur Razzak hit the winning boundary with 16 balls to spare to remain unbeaten on four with Shahadat Hossain (nought) accompanying him at the other end.
For the Zimbabweans, Chibhabha (54) and Williams (51) both batted well to put on 101 for the third wicket after an early double strike by Mashrafe Mortaza had left them reeling.
First the Bangladeshi paceman trapped Duffin (12) leg before wicket before bowling Sibanda (five) to put the home team in early trouble at 22 for two.
Chibhabha and Williams then began the rebuilding process, taking the score to 123 before Saqibul was handed a simple return catch by the latter.
Four runs later the well-set Chibhabha threw his wicket away when he was caught by Mortaza off Razzak.
More quick wickets followed and when debutant Friday Kasteni (nine) was bowled by Hossain, wicketkeeper Taylor (10) bowled by Mortaza and skipper Utseya (nine) run out, the home team were facing the possibility off being bowled out at 191 for seven.
However, Chigumbura had other ideas, plundering seven sixes and a four to hand the initiative back to the hosts.
Only one further wicket followed, Ireland run out for eight as Chigumbura remained not out along with Mpofu (nought) to give the home team a fighting chance.
Mortaza was pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, claiming three for 52 in his 10 over spell.
