Zimbabwe 247 for 6 (Curran 111, Evans 58, Mehidi 2-32) Bangladesh 234 (Hridoy 60, Tanzid 57, Ngarava 3-55) by 13 runs
A pitch that has mitigated its more parlous condition – the first ODI was marked by a wicket once every 13 innings or so – still generates compelling cricket. Curran was there at 9.30am when he was fresh and made a sideways move. Rashad Hussain was there at 5.20pm when the ball dried out and the resulting slowness interfered with the shot-making process. He wasn’t exactly worried about that as much as he was about trying to take advantage of the fading light and bringing DLS into play. He asked to change the gloves and was refused. He fell in between the amounts needing urgent care for his hamstring. It all came to nothing when he bounced.
Pounce had a friend in Harare. When the action died down, when the runs started trickling in, the fast bowler willing to bend his back always found a little bit of surplus. Ngarava exploited this to clear effect late in the piece. His third spell read 3-0-26-2. Nurul Hasan, who had batted strongly to score 38 off 41 under pressure, was suddenly gone, along with Mosaddeq Hossain for 7 off 9. His final spell was a very satisfactory one-ball, one-match and a series of wickets.
The two teams that are often left by the wayside in international matches were giving it their all although their battles were mostly with themselves. Curran had to compose himself throughout the four hours he was there, playing late and close to his body. Forty-seven of his runs came square off the wicket or behind it. Only eight of them were boarders. He built his saga one batch after another. He still did not miss the opportunity when Bangladesh went over the field. Curran collected 33 runs in the ‘V’, including four of his nine fours. Sikandar Raza scored from the other end with 33 off 53, and the fourth wicket partnership (68) contributed more than all previous partners combined (66).
Tenzide’s half-century was also remarkable. He controlled 87% of the balls he faced and did not back down from any of them. The confidence with which he played some of his drives deserved to be packaged and sold on the black market with a warning label of course, because the same thing that helped him secure 57 runs in 70 balls led to his undoing when he saw part-timer Brian Bennett 22 yards out from him and tried to take him down without taking the proper care. Where would this match have gone if he had stopped himself from that sweeping shot and the ball had not passed to break his stumps. However, the impeachment provided a useful contrast. Zimbabwe’s opener was able to resist the temptation. Bangladesh cannot do that.
Bangladesh needed someone like this in the order to provide some much-needed support to Tanzid and also Towhid Hridoy (60 off 90) – who spent all his time at the crease frustrated either because his good shots kept finding fielders or because his partners were not ready for the one-on-one runs. In fact, he should have tried his best to place the ball. In the conditions they are likely to face during the 2027 World Cup, Bangladesh have been taught a harsh lesson. This loss may only be worth it if they imbibe it.
