ZIM vs BAN Live Score

4:27 PM IST Over and out - That brings us to the end of an absolute thriller, where Zimbabwe produce a remarkable comeback to seal a memorable victory and clinch the ODI series with a game to spare. There is still one match left to play, though, and Bangladesh will be eager to end on a high, while Zimbabwe will have their sights set on a clean sweep. The third and final ODI will be played right here at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, 11 July, with the first ball scheduled for 7.30 am GMT. As always, be sure to join us a little earlier for all the build-up. Until then, it's goodbye and cheers!

4:25 PM IST The victorious skipper of Zimbabwe - Richard Ngarava admits Zimbabwe did not bat well in the first ODI and says the team knew it had to respond. He is pleased with the way the batters built a few important partnerships and believes the bowling unit once again showed its strength by working together as a group. He adds that Zimbabwe have developed a habit of finding a way to stay in the contest, no matter the situation. He describes the stands between Ben Curran and Sikandar Raza, and later Curran and Brad Evans, as crucial to Zimbabwe's total, with the late partnership with Evans providing the perfect finish. He also praises the coaching staff for the work they have put in behind the scenes, particularly during sidearm sessions, and says it is rewarding to see that preparation translating into performances on the field. He says many of the decisions come down to instinct and reading the game in the moment. While he regularly discusses plans with the experienced players and values their input, he knows the final call rests with him as captain and is comfortable taking that responsibility on the field. He calls the series win a special moment and says the team will enjoy and celebrate it, but insists the focus quickly shifts to the final ODI. He wants Zimbabwe to maintain the same intensity and deliver another strong performance for the home supporters.

4:25 PM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Ben Curran wins the award for his excellent unbeaten 111 off 135 balls. He says the conditions play a bit differently in winter and notes that there is assistance for bowlers both in the morning and in the afternoon, so he feels getting to the total they did was a good effort. On his own knock, he says he hasn’t played many one-dayers lately and takes confidence from the previous series, adding that it sounds cliché but sticking to his processes makes it easier to focus and bat through while wickets fall in the middle. Curran also speaks highly of batting with Brad Evans, saying Evans deserves to share the Player of the Match award because he played beautifully and took the pressure off when he himself wasn't striking it as cleanly towards the back end, and Curran gives half the credit to him.

4:23 PM IST The captain of Bangladesh - Mehidy Hasan Miraz feels Bangladesh made an excellent start with the ball to reduce Zimbabwe to 66/4, but admits they failed to capitalise. The unbeaten 99-run partnership proved costly, as the bowlers couldn't find the breakthrough needed to halt the hosts' momentum. He believes Bangladesh could have built more pressure during that crucial partnership. A wicket at that stage, in his opinion, would have shifted the momentum back in their favour and prevented Zimbabwe from posting a competitive total. Miraz shares the surface played well and feels 249 was a chaseable target, with the ball coming onto the bat even better in the second innings. While Bangladesh batted well through the middle overs, he believes the lack of partnerships in the final ten overs ultimately proved to be the difference. He admits batting under the lights wasn't the easiest, but prefers to focus on the positives. He believes there are plenty of lessons to take from the game, with building partnerships standing out as the biggest area for improvement.

4:17 PM IST Presentation Time...

4:17 PM IST A relentless effort rewarded - Zimbabwe will be immensely proud of the way they fought till the very end with the ball. Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans struck early but were made to toil through a long wicketless phase as Tanzid Hasan and Towhid Hridoy wrestled back control. However, Brian Bennett's introduction proved to be the turning point as he broke the crucial partnership, opening the door for the hosts. Wesley Madhevere then removed the dangerous Hridoy to swing the momentum firmly in Zimbabwe's favour, before Richard Ngarava and Muzarabani ripped through the lower order with timely strikes. Sikandar Raza chipped in with a wicket of his own, and fittingly, it was captain Ngarava who sealed a memorable victory with the final breakthrough.