ZIM vs BAN 2026, ZIM vs BAN 3rd ODI Match Report, July 11, 2026

From 108 for 5 after 33 overs, with a stodgy scoring rate of 3.27 an over, Zimbabwe added 91 runs in 15.1 overs to set Bangladesh a target of 200. Batting at No.8, Brad Evans struck a second successive half-century, this one off 41 balls, and shared in three lower-order partnerships of 20 runs or more to push Zimbabwe to a competitive total on a sticky pitch.

Wessly Madhevere reached his ODI best of 75 off 74 balls but no other Zimbabwe batter in the top seven scored more than Innocent Kaia’s 25. Bangladesh put Zimbabwe in to bat for the third match in succession, and will be reasonably pleased with their performance though they were unable to chop the tail off early. Taskin Ahmed was exceptional and his first nine overs cost 21 runs before his final went for 11 to leave him with figures of 2 for 32. His new-ball partner Shoriful Islam took 4 for 44 and the pair had Zimbabwe under the pump for most of the innings.

With an additional seamer, Mohammed Saifuddin, in their ranks, Bangladesh hoped to prise quick wickets and they got that and more. Taskin started with three wides before he found his rhythm and tested both Ben Curran and Brian Bennett with back-of-a-length deliveries that flirted with both the inside and outside edges. While Taskin built pressure and conceded just six runs in his first three overs, Shoriful got the first reward. Curran played on, almost in slow-motion, as he tried to guide the ball behind square and then was unable to fend it away from the stumps. In the next over Taskin’s toil paid off as he had Bennett caught behind off a beauty that swerved away gently and the batter could not help playing at it. Zimbabwe did not score a run for the next 17 deliveries and finished the powerplay on 21 for 2, with Kaia’s straight drive their only boundary.

Craig Ervine faced 20 balls for five runs before he attempted a loose drive off Shoriful and was caught behind. Madhevere should have followed with the introduction of spin, when he sent Tanvir Islam to backward point but was dropped on 0, which proved costly for Bangladesh. Madhevere and Kaia shared a stand of 51 as Zimbabwe rebuilt slowly. There was only one release shot in their stand, when Madhevere hit Tanvir over long-on for six but the going was tough. The scoreboard was barely moving as Zimbabwe were 72 for 3 at the halfway stage.

With the game drifting, Taskin was brought back for a second spell and immediately made an impact. He rushed Kaia with a short, pace-on ball, Kaia pulled with height not distance and was caught at square leg. Stand-in captain Sikandar Raza’s arrival brought slightly more albeit short-lived intent. He charged down the track to hit Shoriful over mid-off for six but in the next over, Raza fell over as he tried to pull Tanvir, top-edged and was caught at short fine leg.

Five balls later, Clive Madande was caught behind for 1 and with Zimbabwe 108 for 6 in the 34th over, Bangladesh would have had hopes of closing out the innings quickly. Enter Evans. The hero of Zimbabwe’s innings in the second match, where he scored 58 off 38 balls, started confidently when he drove Shoriful through the covers for four. Bangladesh thought they had him when they appealed for caught behind off Tanvir but Umpire Allahuddien Paleker was unmoved.

In the next over, Madhevere brought up fifty and then hit Mehidy Hasan Miraz behind square for four, then Evans sent Miraz over his head for four and Madhevere smashed Safiuddin through the covers. As Zimbabwe gained momentum, Bangladesh’s grip on the innings loosened and they made another vital error when Saifuddin dropped Evans on 13 his followthrough as Evans sent a low full toss straight back to him.

Zimbabwe entered the final 10 overs on 150 for 6 and with two batters looking to accelerate. Madhevere tried to carve Tanvir over the offside but was deceived by the lack of pace and popped it up for Miraz to take the catch at cover. Madhevere stood bowed over his bat handle in disbelief that the chance to score a century was gone in a flash. Still, Zimbabwe had Evans and his can-do attitude. He took 11 runs off Miraz’s next over and seemed to be rubbing off on Wellington Masakadza, who pulled Taskin through fine leg to cost him his first boundary.

Masakadza was run-out by a direct hit from Towhid Hridoy when he took for a single Evans didn’t want, leaving it to Evans to finish off. He reached fifty with a single after hitting Taskin for four and then and then six but was dismissed when Shoriful bounced him out. Zimbabwe were bowled out with 11 deliveries remaining in the innings.

Zimbabwe have defended successfully in the previous two matches, and have already won the series, but with the hosts fielding a new-look bowling attack, Bangladesh could eye a consolation win.

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