Teams look to sort out top-order woes

After the high of the first match, things have gone spectacularly downhill for Zimbabwe. They can't get much worse than in the fourth ODI, where they were rolled over for 44, one of the lowest-ever ODI scores. That was only the most glaring of the collapses - Zimbabwe's top order has been abysmal all through the series and even their victory in the first game came after a slew of early wickets. The trouble is that their key batsmen - Charles Coventry, Brendan Taylor and Tatenda Taibu - have all misfired, leaving the lower order too much to do.

Bangladesh's top-order hasn't been in top gear either but that crack has been papered over by the home side's spin attack, which has kept Zimbabwe to modest scores in each of the three previous matches.

Shakib Al Hasan had already shown how ambitious this Bangladesh side is by stating that they were aiming for a 4-1 victory immediately after the opening match defeat. His team have lifted their game enough to seal the series, and one more solid performance will make them achieve their captain's goal of a lopsided series win.

A victory in the dead rubber will bring some respectability to the margin of Zimbabwe's defeat but, on the evidence of this series, their goal of making a return to Tests remains a distant dream.

Form Guide (most recent first)
Bangladesh - WW WLW
Zimbabwe - LLLWW
Watch Out For
Tamim Iqbal is already the highest run-getter in the series, repeating a feat he achieved when Bangladesh toured Zimbabwe a few months ago. Two consecutive run-filled series will give the opener the confidence he needs to bolster a fragile Bangladesh top order.
Ray Price is among the few bright spots in a poor campaign for Zimbabwe. He has managed to keep the runs in check, but his batsmen haven't provided him with big enough totals to get a result for Zimbabwe.

Teams
The track for the final ODI is expected to have a bit more bounce and pace than the one that was served up on Tuesday. That means quick bowler Shahadat Hossain could get a game ahead of one of the spinners. It's also a big game for opener Junaid Siddique, who has flopped in every match this series, putting his place in jeopardy.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Junaid Siddique, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Raqibul Hasan, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Naeem Islam/Shahadat Hossain, 9 Enamul Haque jnr, 10 Abdur Razzak, 11 Nazmul Hossain

With Tatenda Taibu and Prosper Utseya injured, Zimbabwe have only 13 fit players available. Either Forster Mutizwa or Mark Vermuelen will fill in the space created by Taibu's absence. Fast bowler Chris Mpofu hasn't got a game this series, and might be picked ahead of the expensive Kyle Jarvis.

Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Hamilton Masakadza (capt), 2 Chamu Chibhabha, 3 Brendan Taylor (wk), 4 Forster Mutizwa/Mark Vermeulen, 5 Charles Coventry, 6 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Malcolm Waller, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Ray Price, 11 Kyle Jarvis

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Shakib stars in Bangladesh win

A dazzling unbeaten ton from Shakib Al Hasan helped Bangladesh claim a seven-wicket against Zimbabwe in the second ODI.

Chasing a target of 220 for victory, Shakib entered the field with the hosts on 56 for three and promptly set about Zimbabwe's pace attack, smacking 15 fours and three sixes in a lively 69-ball knock in Dhaka.

Raqibul Hasan added a steady 39 as the pair put on an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 165.

Earlier, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 219 in 47.2 overs with Malcolm Waller (40) and Chamu Chibhabha (39) contributing the most runs to their total.

Abdur Razzak was the biggest thorn in the side of the visitors, claiming five for 29 to put Zimbabwe firmly on the back foot.

Naeem Islam and Mohammad Ashraful also chipped in with two wickets apiece.
Victory sees Bangladesh level the five-match series 1-1 with the third one-dayer scheduled for Saturday.

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Bangladesh aim to sustain dominance

Match facts
Tuesday, October 27
Start time 14.30 local (07.30 GMT)

Big Picture
The third bilateral series between the two teams this year in 2009 illustrates just how the game is suffering from overkill, with ODIs being the preferred format. That won't matter much to Bangladesh - with three series wins on the trot, they are ready for five more ODIs at home to Zimbabwe - whom they have beaten in six of their nine ODIs this year.
Though that makes poor reading for the visitors, the recent return of former players to key coaching and administrative roles, a restructured domestic format and the prospect of increased international commitments - they have an ODI series against South Africa next month - bodes well. Heath Streak has joined the support staff and Alistair Campbell has come out of the cold and has been appointed chairman of selectors. Their ultimate goal is to get Zimbabwe playing Tests again, and continued success in ODIs is certainly a step in the right direction.

The signs were evident in their 4-1 walloping of Kenya, but it will need a bigger step-up when they take on opposition against whom they have won just four of their previous 20 matches. Captain Prosper Utseya will look to avoid a repeat of the last tour when they got off to a winning start but ended up on the losing side. He hopes for an improved showing this time around, not just from the batsmen who will bank on their experience of playing the Bangladesh spinners but also the bowlers who would have benefitted from Streak's presence.

Watch out for:

Picked in the ICC Test Team of the Year as well as being named international player of the year by Wisden Cricketer Magazine, Shakib Al Hasan, has been one of the consistent performers for Bangladesh in ODIs as well. He was handed the captaincy in the West Indies after Mashrafe Mortaza's injury and, in the latter's prolonged absence, has retained it for this series. It has not appeared to be a burden for him - his bowling has remained impressive and he seems to have improved his batting.

The Bangladesh spinners proved to be the difference in the series in August and they would be even more of a threat in home conditions. Zimbabwe's batsmen will need all the experience they have picked up in recent encounters to tackle the slow bowlers led by Abdur Razzaq, who returns after a hamstring injury.

Brendan Taylor, who missed out during Zimbabwe's last trip to Bangladesh, has been in top form for Zimbabwe. Having finished the third-highest scorer in the series in Zimbabwe with 193 from five matches at 38.60, he announced himself in Bangladesh with a superb 139 in the last tour game against the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI.

All eyes will be on former captain Tatenda Taibu, who will look to put behind him all the off-the-field troubles that kept him away from international cricket albeit for a brief period. Taibu and Zimbabwe have another opportunity, and what better way to turn the corner than being up against a familiar foe.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Junaid Siddique, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Raqibul Hasan, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Naeem Islam, 9 Rubel Hossain, 10 Abdur Razzak 11 Nazmul Hossain/Mahbubul Alam.

Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Chamu Chibhabha, 3 Forster Mutizwa, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 6 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 7 CK Coventry, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Prosper Utseya (capt), 10 Ray Price, 11 Kyle Jarvis

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Zimbabwe to tour South Africa for ODIs

South Africa will take on Zimbabwe in a two-match ODI series in early November. It will be Zimbabwe's first international visit to South Africa since 2005. The two teams last faced each other in an ODI more than two years ago, in August 2007. Zimbabwe have just concluded a 4-1 series win at home against Kenya, but were beaten 1-4 by Bangladesh before that.

South Africa have had a good year in ODIs with series wins over Australia both home and away, but had a disappointing Champions Trophy where they were knocked out in the league phase.

The two ODIs will be staged at Willowmore Park in Benoni and SuperSport Park in Centurion on November 8 and November 10 respectively.

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Revamped Zimbabwe XI host Kenya

A much-revamped Zimbabwe XI will host Kenya in an ICC Intercontinental Cup fixture in Kwekwe on Wednesday. Zimbabwe have made seven changes to the side that drew their previous game against Afghanistan in Mutare, and the most notable absence is Tatenda Taibu, who starred with a century in each innings.

Taibu - who's playing domestic cricket in Zimbabwe - had led Zimbabwe XI in their opening game, and has been replaced by opener Vusi Sibanda. The other six inclusions are Chamu Chibabha, Gregory Strydom, Kyle Jarvis, Ed Rainsford, John Nyumbu and Samuel Mwakayeni.

Kenya have recalled seamer Ragheb Aba to the squad after more than a year's absence. Aba replaces Seren Waters, who is unavailable due to study commitments in England. Kenya retain a familiar line-up with Maurice Ouma leading them, and will bank on the experience of Steve Tikolo - also playing domestic cricket in Zimbabwe - along with Thomas Odoyo and Alex Obanda.

Zimbabwe find themselves at sixth place in the Intercontinental Cup, having played just one game, while their opponents Kenya have fared better, placed at No.2 after their 247-run win over Canada in King City in August.

Kenya then play a five-match ODI series with Zimbabwe between October 12-18 in Harare.

ZIMBABWE XI (squad): Vusi Sibanda (capt), Friday Kasteni, Chamu Chibabha, Gregory Strydom, Forster Mutizwa, Regis Chikabvha, Timycen Maruma, Kyle Jarvis, Shingirai Masakadza, Ed Rainsford, John Nyumbu, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Samuel Mwakayemi.

KENYA (squad): Maurice Ouma (capt), Rageb Aga, Steve Tikolo, David Obuya, Rakep Patel, Alex Obanda, Collins Oduya, Nehimiah Odhiambo, Thomas Odoyo, Jimmy Kamande, Eligah Otieno, Lameck Onyango, Alfred Luseno, Peter Ogondo, Hiren Varalya.

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