We were surprised when Bangladesh opened with both spinners: Graeme Cremer

In the opening match of the tri-nation series, Zimbwabe were beaten by Bangladesh quite comfortably in the end. Tamim Iqbal remained not out on 82 during the run-chase. Earlier it was Shakib Al Hasan who pegged the Zimbwabeans with two blows in the first over of the game.

Bangladesh had won the toss and opted to field first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. After an early dent in the first over, Brendon Taylor along with opener Hamilton Masakadza provided some stability to the batting side but Mashrafe Mortaza removed Masakadza to break the partnership.

Sikandar Raza along with Peter Moor were the only batters who presented some resistance to the Bangladeshi bowling. Raza scored a slow half-century, 52 off 99 deliveries and hit 2 fours and 2 sixes in his innings. Moor managed 33 off 58 deliveries and he too hit two boundaries. Shakib accounted for 3 wickets in the innings. He received equal support from all the bowlers which helped them fold out Zimbwabe for just 170 runs.

Overdependence on Solomon

Zimbabwe never recovered from the initial setback skipper Graeme Cremer feels. Creamer told the reporters that the momentum shifted in favour of the Bangladeshi side after the first two wickets in the opening over itself and that they never managed to regain it.

He said that they rely on Solomon Mire’s batting in the powerplay and his wicket didn’t do them any good. “We look to Solomon to power those 10 overs, so it is always tough to lose him early. Ervine steadies the innings, so to lose him also was really tough,” said the skipper.

He also talked about the fact that Bangladesh opted to start the bowling with the spin from both the ends and that it surprised them. “Our openers like pace on the ball. They know that. We thought they would open with one spinner at least. We didn’t know if it was going to be Shakib or Nasir. We thought one of them might open,” Creamer told reporters.

Zimbabwe will now face Sri Lanka in the second game of the series on Wednesday.