A ton, a five-for & a record win

At the end of it all, the result of yesterday's first ODI merely reflected a performance that was expected of the hosts. In terms of the margin, the 145- run victory in Mirpur was Bangladesh's biggest ever against Zimbabwe.

However, beyond the numbers, what seemed to impress more was the motivation shown by certain players to meet their respective goals.

Take for instance the determination shown by Mushfiqur Rahim. The wicketkeeper-batsman had been going through tough times ever since he injured himself in the Pakistan series. Mushfiqur's 107 yesterday -- his fourth century overall-- was his first 50-plus score in his last five ODIs.

The same goes for Shakib Al Hasan. He had sniffed an opportunity to scalp his career's first ever five-wicket haul in ODIs last night and he went for it. He finished with 5 for 47.

It didn't matter that both these players had overcome various barriers against much tougher opponents in the past, what mattered to them was the match in hand and what they could conjure from it. 

Having been set a target of 274, the visitors, despite a decent opening stand of 40, collapsed after the 10-over mark. Shakib began the destruction by removing both Chibabha and Craig Ervine by the 14th over.

Runs dried up since then from which point the visitors never recovered.

Shakib returned again to remove the dangerous Sean Williams and the tail.

Nasir Hossain provided the finishing and the visitors were bundled out for just 128.

Shakib Al Hasan's (R) bat did not talk in Mirpur, but the premier Bangladesh all-rounder had one long pending wish granted -- a maiden five-for -- in the first one-day international against Zimbabwe yesterday. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Playing their first ODI after a gap of three months, Bangladesh's top order earlier looked a bit rusty after being put into bat.

And by the 28th over the hosts seemed to be in a bit of a pickle at 123 for 4. However, where the other batsmen failed, Mushfiqur prospered. A sense of relaxation seemed to spread through the dressing room as Mushfiqur gently stitched his innings, akin to the sensation they probably felt till the Pakistan series this year.

Despite being troubled early by leg-spinner Graeme Cremer, who squared Mushfiqur up a few times, the Tigers’ number one batsman held on.

He reached his half-century in the 26th over and eventually got to his hundred off 104 balls in the 46th. Sabbir Rahman also hit his highest ODI score, 57 and helped stitch a 119-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mushfiqur.