Afif, Bijoy propel Bangladesh avoid whitewash

Afif Hossain and Anamul Haque Bijoy powered Bangladesh avoided whitewash, securing a 105-run win over Zimbabwe in the third and final ODI at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday.

The Tigers batted first in today's match and set a target of 257 for the hosts. In reply, Zimbabwe were all out for 151 in 32.2 overs.

Sikandar Raza, who hit two centuries for Zimbabwe in the first two matches, made a golden duck in this match. He fell to Hasan Mahmud.

Richard Ngarava, the No. 10 of Zimbabwe, scored the highest run for the home side.

For Bangladesh, Mustafizu Rahman bagged four wickets for 17 runs in 5.2 overs. Edadot Hossain, who played his first ODI, and Taijul Islam scalped two wickets each.

Earlier, Afif Hossain remained unbeaten on 85, and Anamul Haque Bijoy hit his second fifty in the series to power Bangladesh to 256-9.

Like the first two matches, Bangladesh managed a brisk start as Tamim Iqbal and Anamul added 41 runs in 8.3 overs. Tamim was run-out for 19 off 30 balls.

After that, Bangladesh suffered a mini-collapse. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim fell quickly within 10th overs of the innings. Both made ducks.

In the fourth-wicket stand, Anamul and Mahmudullah Riyad added 77 runs. But the unusually slow batting of Riyad put immense pressure on Bangladesh. He eventually fell for 39 off 69 balls.

Afif stood firm like a rock at the other end of the wicket. But he did not get enough support from Mehidy Hasan Miraz who scored 24 balls to score 14 runs.

For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans and Luke Jongwe scalped two wickets each.

Ahead of the ODIs, Bangladesh played a three-match T20I series against the hosts and suffered a defeat 2-1.