Aftab Ahmed smashed an unbeaten half century after paceman Mashrafee Bin Mortaza captured three wickets Friday to guide Bangladesh to an easy eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth limited overs cricket international.
Bangladesh successfully chased the victory target of 147 in just 32.2 overs after dismissing Zimbabwe for 146 in 47.2 overs.
Ahmed struck three sixes and three boundaries for his 58 off 69 balls.
He shared an unbeaten 85-run stand with Sakib Al Hasan, who made 31 off 65 balls. They paired after Bangladesh lost openers Shahriar Nafees (34) and Mehrab Hossain(13) to Gary Brent _ the only wicket taker for Zimbabwe _ for 62 runs.
Earlier Mortaza took three wickets to dismiss Zimbabwe for a paltry 146 runs after captain Habibul Bashar won the toss and sent Zimbabwe to bat.
Mortaza conceded only 14 runs in 6.2 overs. Another fast bowler Shahadat Hossain, and spinners Abdur Razzak and Sakib Al Hasan each grabbed two wickets.
Spinner Mohammad Rafique got one wicket as Zimbabwe was all out in 47.2 overs.
Bangladesh's bowlers struck well and sent Zimbabwe to bat first at Dhaka's Mirpur Stadium _ the venue's first-ever international cricket match.
Elton Chigumbura and Keith Debengwa each scored 32 runs as the other Zimbabwe batsmen fell cheaply. Zimbabwe lost three quick wickets with the score stuck at 40.
Bangladesh leads the series 4-0.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
