The midday chill in the capital of Zimbabwe rarely stays for long, but it seems to have settled in for good in the case of Bangladesh.
When the tourists arrived in Harare, they were basking in the glow of a remarkable victory. Bangladesh had just beaten Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia in successive one-day internationals, while Zimbabwe had not played an ODI in a year. Their new captain, Richard Ngarava, was making his debut, and they were still reeling from their World Cup qualifying heartbreak last year. Zimbabwe knew it had nothing to lose.
And so, over the following five days, they unearthed a gritty, uncompromising spirit that took their supporters right back to the halcyon days of the early 2000s and served as a confident statement of intent to the cricketing world ahead of the World Cup, which they will host, along with South Africa and Namibia, in 2023. By winning the first two ODIs, they had already secured a series win with a game to spare.
The Graveyard of Batting Reputations: Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh
It hasn’t been a series for the purists who want to see a new crop of refined, high-scoring modern cricket. It has been a gritty, low-scoring test of technique against the moving ball. On two different hot and responsive pitches, top orders have been dismantled like stale biscuits.
In the opener, Bangladesh knew they had already done a tremendous job. A fiery six for 21 by the sensational rookie fast bowler Nahid Rana had sent Zimbabwe on a horror show, as he sent them tumbling from 70 for 2 to 70 for 8. This bowling performance was expected to deliver a 1-0 victory for Bangladesh.
However, it created an unbelievable opportunity for a come-from-behind heist. Nineteen-year-old left-arm quick Newman Nyamhuri and his new captain Ngarava counterattacked in a fearless 63-run stand. Newman remained not out on his career best 33 as Zimbabwe chased down the modest total of 141 with a windfall of just 116. Next, it was Nyamhuri’s turn to bowl and dismantle the opposition. With his new-ball partner Ngarava and the tall left-arm paceman Blessing Muzarabani, Zimbabwe’s pace attack didn’t produce a single over of spin as they similarly dismantled the Bangladeshi batting order. Zimbabwe rolled Bangladesh for a mere 116, creating an improbable two-wicket win over the world power.
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“We knew 141 was a small total to chase, but on that track, anything is possible, even defending a first-innings deficit,” said Ngarava, who made 39 not out in the thrilling win.
Out of the Shadows: Curran and Evans
If the first match was a victory rescued from the jaws of defeat, the second ODI played on Thursday was one of consolidation and legacy.
This time, Ben Curran was the one to step up. The left-handed opener, who plays for Zimbabwe but is the son of former Zimbabwe international Kevin Curran and older brother of England stars Sam and Tom, authored a wonderful innings of 111 not out while wickets were falling regularly. At one stage, Zimbabwe were 32 for 3 chasing 246, but left-hander Curran stood
firm.
True, he did not hit a six in his innings, and has not hit one in his 10 ODIs to date, but he faced all 300 deliveries in his way to an unbeaten 111.
Curran’s reliable innings found a brilliant partner in all-rounder Brad Evans, his most successful opening partner.
Coming in at number eight with the score reading 148 for 6, Evans hit 58 from 35 balls, including five sixes, to steer Zimbabwe to 247 for 6 in reply to the 234 set by Bangladesh.
However, Bangladesh began their chase on the back foot as opener Tanzid Hasan was run out for 57 and Towhid Hridoy scored 60 before falling short in the final over. At the last pair, Evans held his nerve to dismiss Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz to seal a 13-run win for Zimbabwe.
The Final Stand: A History 25 Years in the Making
As the teams turn to face each other at the weekend, the emphasis is on history.
Both sides know the outcome has huge implications, but for Bangladesh, a win is a matter of survival.
With Mustafizur Rahman out of the team, they are in deep trouble against a fearful Zimbabwe pace attack that has bowled Taskin Ahmed out four times in the series, not to mention taking 27 ODI wickets this year from the fearful speedster Nahid Rana.
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A win for Zimbabwe would see them record a whitewash, something their young pace spearhead Richard Ngarava might consider even more special.
It’s been 25 years since Zimbabwe last beat Bangladesh in a multi-game series, back in 2001 when the golden generation was at the peak of its powers. And on Saturday, the young guns might just want to emulate their predecessors, although conditions are set to be a lot cooler in Harare.
The mercury is only likely to peak at a balmy 23 degrees Celsius, but the temperature in the ground will be white hot.
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