Bowlers, Mithun set up massive win for Bangladesh A

A timely hundred from Mohammad Mithun helped Bangladesh A crush Zimbabwe A by 138 runs in the first one-day match of the three-match series in Harare.

Put in to bat first, the visitors recovered from the early loss of Rony Talukdar through a 77-run second-wicket stand between Mithun and Shadman Islam, who made 58 off 89 balls with eight fours.

Mithun was dismissed for 100 off 103 balls with six fours and three sixes, and was also involved in a 65-run, third-wicket stand with Naeem Islam, who chipped in with 27. Mosaddek Hossain Saikat provided some fireworks towards the end, hitting two sixes in his 12-ball 22, but Zimbabwe A pulled it back well. Brian Vitori and Ryan Burl took two wickets each, while Donald Tiripano, Chris Mpofu and Tapiwa Mufudza contributed a wicket each.

The home side, however, batted poorly, succumbing at the start to the accuracy of Mohammad Shahid and Abu Jayed, who took two wickets each. The first four Zimbabwe A batsmen failed to put up a personal score of more than six runs, and only Burl top-scored with an unbeaten 41 off 77 balls. He saw the rest of the batting line-up crumble to the offspinner Mahmudul Hasan, who ended up with four wickets for 30 runs.