Nasir knock gives Bangladesh competitive total

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (AFP) –

Nasir Hossain plays a shot against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on May 3, 2013

Bangladesh batsman Nasir Hossain is in action during the 1st of the three matches ODI cricket series between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on May 3, 2013. Hossain continued his good form with the bat as Bangladesh set Zimbabwe 270 to win the first one-day international at Queens Sports Club

Nasir Hossain continued his good form with the bat as Bangladesh set Zimbabwe 270 to win the first one-day international at Queens Sports Club on Friday.

Nasir followed up his 77 and 67 not out in the second Test victory in Harare with a free-flowing 68 that kept the Bangladeshi innings on track after Shingirai Masakadza had tamed the Tigers’ top order.

The tourists made a sturdy start after being put in to bat, with Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful putting on an opening stand of 65, but Masakadza removed the pair in his opening two overs and then claimed the wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim.

With Shakib Al Hasan run out for a single, Bangladesh had slumped to 94 for four but Nasir resurrected the innings in a 76-run partnership with Mominul Haque.

Tendai Chatara broke the stand when he had Mominul caught behind for a scratchy 36, but Nasir added 44 runs in seven overs with Mahmudullah before cutting a Tinashe Panyangara delivery straight to deep point.

Mahmudullah went on to make 36 from 38 deliveries before he became Masakadza’s fourth victim of the day in the final over of the innings, which finished on 269 for eight.

Masakadza finished with figures of 4 for 51, but his efforts were negated by Zimbabwe’s ill-discipline with the ball as they gave up 32 extras, including 18 wides.