Nahid Rana breaks record, surpassing Mashrafe-Rubel

The record for Bangladesh's best bowling figures in ODIs was shared by two pacers - Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Rubel Hossain. Mashrafe took 6 wickets for 26 runs against Kenya in 2006, while Rubel had the same figure against New Zealand in Mirpur in 2013. Nahid Rana has now made the record intact for almost two decades. The pacer now owns the best bowling figures in Bangladesh's history in ODIs, taking 6 wickets for 21 runs in the first ODI of the series against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Monday (July 6).

Bangladesh captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz won the toss and sent Zimbabwe to bat in the first ODI of the three-match series. Taskin Ahmed, of course, opened the innings. After removing Ben Curran (18) and Brian Bennett (17), he bowled Craig Ervine for a golden duck and crushed the hosts' top order. In the middle, Miraz's brilliant run-out completely shifted the momentum of the match to Bangladesh.

Then the Nahid-storm began. First, he caught Sikandar Raja (1) behind the wicket, the next victim was Wesley Madhevere—Nahid's extra bounce led to an outside edge and he was caught by Nazmul Hossain Shanto at second slip and could not open the score. Zimbabwe's middle order, which was struggling with a loss of 5 wickets for 49 runs, also collapsed in front of Nahid's pace. In the end, the hosts put up some resistance with a 50-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Newman Nyamhuri and Richard Ngarava. However, Nahid broke that partnership by bowling captain Ngarava (27). Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for just 141 runs in 36.4 overs.

This was Nahid's third five-wicket haul in ODIs. He first faced the Pfeiffer when he took 5 for 24 against Pakistan in Mirpur in March, and 5 for 32 against New Zealand in April. The pacer, who has been named the man of the match in two consecutive series, has also been named the ICC Player of the Month for April. This time, he set the record for the best bowling figures in the country's ODI history in Zimbabwe.

It is worth noting that Bangladesh lost the only Test in Harare last week by an innings and 85 runs. However, with the return of Taskin, Mustafiz and Nahid, who were rested in that Test, the Tigers have come out with a full-strength bowling attack in the ODIs - and the benefits of this have been tangible in the first match.