Paceman Mpofu leads Zimbabwe to narrow win

Paceman Christopher Mpofu claimed three vital wickets for 25 to lift Zimbabwe to a nine-run victory over Bangladesh in the first one-day international on Wednesday.

Mpofu scalped opener Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Shakib al Hasan as Bangladesh were all out for 200 in 49 overs having been set a modest target.

Bangladesh got off to a steady start before Mpofu had Iqbal lbw for 23 to end a 44-run opening stand and spinners then made regular breakthroughs to keep the home side under pressure.

Shakib and Mahmudullah steadied the innings with 54 for the seventh wicket before Mpofu struck again to dismiss Mahmudullah, caught by Chamu Chibhabha at long on for 14.

Mpofu then got rid of Shakib, top scorer with 63 from 65 balls, leaving Bangladesh on 195-9 before a fourth run out finally sank them.

Earlier, left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak took four for 41 to help restrict Zimbabwe to 209 all out. Regis Chakabva, playing only his second ODI, top scored with 45.

The second match is at the same venue on Friday.

Scoreboard:
Zimbabwe innings
B. Taylor st Rahim b Razzak 27
C. Chibhabha b Razzak 24
R. Chakabva c&b Mahmudullah 45
E. Chigumbura b Razzak 7
T. Taibu c Zunaed b Sohrawordi 14
C. Ervine c Ashraful b Shakib 41
P. Utseya c Sohrawordi b Mahmudullah 21
K. Dabengwa c Shakib b Razzak 8
K. Meth st Rahim b Sohrawordi 3
R. Price not out 1
C. Mpofu run out 2
Extras (lb-4 w-12) 16
Total (all out; 49 overs) 209
Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-58, 3-71, 4-94, 5-159, 6-184, 7-201, 8-204, 9-207, 10-209
Bowling: Mortaza 6-0-36-0, Shafiul 4-0-21-0, Razzak 10-1-41-4, Sohrawordi 10-2-32-2, Shakib 10-0-37-1, Mahmudullah 9-1-38-2.

Bangladesh innings
T. Iqbal lbw b Mpofu 23
I. Kayes c Chakabva b Price 41
Z. Siddique run out 11
M. Ashraful b Utseya 6
S. Hasan c Meth b Mpofu 63
M. Rahim b Price 1
M. Sohrawordi run out 11
Mahmudullah c Chibhabha b Mpofu 14
M. Mortaza run out 12
A. Razzak not out 5
S. Islam run out 3
Extras (lb-2 w-8) 10
Total (all out; 49 overs) 200
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-76, 3-82, 4-89, 5-98, 6-115, 7-169, 8-187, 9-195
Bowling: Mpofu 9-0-25-3, Meth 8-0-50-0, Utseya 10-0-35-1, Price 10-1-29-2,  Dabengwa 5-0-32-0, Taylor 7-0-27-0