Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam became the first cricketer to claim a hat-trick on his debut in a one-day international as he set up a five-wicket victory for Bangladesh over Zimbabwe on Monday
Bangladesh cricketers congratulate teammate Taijul Islam (C) after his hat-trick during the fifth and the final one-day international (ODI) match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka
Dhaka: Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam became the first cricketer to claim a hat-trick on his debut in a one-day international as he set up a five-wicket victory for Bangladesh over Zimbabwe on Monday.
Bangladesh cricketers congratulate teammate Taijul Islam (C) after his hat-trick during the fifth and the final one-day international (ODI) match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Pic/AFP
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The win in Dhaka gave Bangladesh a clean sweep in the five-match ODI series against their fellow cricketing minnows. The whitewash came after the hosts recorded a 3-0 win against the visitors in the preceding Test series.
Taijul bowled Tinashe Panyangara in the last ball of his sixth over and returned to trap John Nyumbu leg before and bowl Tendai Chatara in the first two balls of his next over to complete the hat-trick. Taijul, who finished with 4-11, is only the fourth Bangladeshi to claim a hat-trick in an ODI after Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Razzak and Rubel Hossain. Shakib Al Hasan took the last wicket to return figures of 3-30 as Zimbabwe collapsed after a fine start.
They lost their last nine wickets for 33 runs and were dismissed for 128 in 30 overs. Leg-spinner Jubair Hossain shared in the demolition, taking 2-41. Hamilton Masakadza top-scored for Zimbabwe with 52 and shared a 79-run second-wicket stand with Vusimuzi Sibanda (37) -- the only high point in Zimbabwe's innings. Panyangara and Chatara, who shared the five Bangladeshi wickets that fell, briefly raised the visitors' hopes.
But Mahmudullah kept his composure to score an unbeaten 51, guiding Bangladesh to 130-5 in 24.3 overs. The 28-year old middle-order batsman hit two fours off successive balls from seamer Solomon Mire to seal the rout and bring up his 11th fifty in the process. Sabbir Rahman, 13 not out, supported Mahmudullah after Bangladesh lost their fifth wicket with the score on 93. Chatara finished with 3-44 while Panyangara claimed 2-49.
Taijul took 25 wickets in five Tests before being given a chance in the one-day format. "I've never dreamt that it would happen. But it happened by the grace of the Almighty," a beaming Taijul said after being adjudged man of the match. "It's really a nice feeling. My plan was to bowl wicket-to-wicket and I am happy to be rewarded."
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