BULWAYO - Sean Williams and Malcolm Waller inspired Zimbabwe to a six-wicket victory here yesterday over Bangladesh to level at 1-1 the Teletalk ODI series.

Williams reached a new career best of 78 not out while Waller’s unbeaten 38 helped carry the hosts over the finishing line with 13 balls to spare.

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor won the toss and elected to field first and Bangladesh were able to post a competitive 252-9 after 5 overs.

Abdur Razzak top scored for the visitors with a blistering unbeaten 55 off 22 deliveries.

Razzak’s innings featured four boundaries and five 6s as he had the Zimbawean fielders chasing leather all over the park in the final overs.   

The Tigers’ innings had got off to a slow start as they were restricted by the Zimbabwe attack and lost wickets at regular intervals.

Zimbabwe got the first breakthrough in the third over when Tamim Iqbal (6) was caught by Taylor off Tendai Chatara with only 10 runs on the board.

Elton Chigumbura was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers with figures of 3-39 while Tendai Chatara picked up two wickets.

Shingi Masakadza, who had figures of 4-51 in the first ODI, Kyle Jarvis and Prosper Utseya picked a wicket a piece.

Just like the visitors’, Zimbabwe wobbled a bit at the start after Hamilton Masakadza was dismissed for 15 in the fifth over.

Vusumuzi Sibanda and Sikanda Raza Butt however steadied the ship with a 65-run partnership for the second wicket.

Sibanda was just one run shot from his 19th ODI half century when he trapped lbw by Shakib Al Hasan in the 17th over.

Butt (23) was caught by Shakib off the bowling of Shafiul Islam in the next over as the hosts started to crumble.

Taylor and Williams however stemmed the demise as they put up a partnership worth 73 runs of 102 for the fourth wicket.

The Zimbabwe captain was on 37 when he was caught by Haque off the dangerous Ziaur Rahman in the 35th over.

Williams and Waller however carried Zimbabwe over the line with their 86-run partnership ast the hosts reached 253-4 inside 47.5 overs.

Zimbabwe’s win means that Wednesday’s final ODI at the same venue will now decide the winner of the series. - Nyasha Chingono