An unbeaten century by Shahriar Nafees and his 114-run second-wicket stand with Aftab Ahmed helped Bangladesh cruise to a nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe, with 27 balls to spare, in the first limited-overs international Thursday in southwestern Khulna.

Man of the match, opener Shahriar Nafees (105) smashed his third consecutive one-day international hundred off 136 balls, with a dozen boundaries and a six.

Aftab Ahmed (60) hit a half-century off 66 balls with a boundary and three sixes.

Both Nafees and Ahmed crossed the 1,000 run mark in one-day matches.

``It is good to start a series with a win,'' said Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar, whose side now leads the five-match series 1-0.

Sean Williams took the only wicket for Zimbabwe when he dismissed opener Mehrab Hossain (13).

Bangladeshi spinners earlier restricted Zimbabwe to 184-9 after captain Prosper Utseya won the toss and opted to bat first at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Matiur Rahman Stadium.

Abdur Razzak snared four wickets and was well supported by fellow spinners Mohammad Rafique and Sakib Al Hasan who each grabbed two wickets.

Rafique became the first Bangladeshi bowler to record 100 one-day international wickets, in 104 matches, after dismissing Brendan Taylor who led with 38.

Taylor and another opener Stuart Matsikinyeri (27) gave Zimbabwe a solid start.

Razzak ended the 52-run opening stand after dismissing Matsikinyeri and triggering the fall of wickets at regular intervals.

The two sides will meet for the second limited-overs match Sunday in northern Bogra town.

© The Canadian Press, 2007