First one-day international, Bulawayo:
Bangladesh 211-2 (34.3 ovs) bt Zimbabwe 207 (47.5 ovs) by eight wkts
Match scorecard

Ashraful's unbeaten century guided Bangladesh to victory

Mohammad Ashraful and Tamim Iqbal shared a partnership of 137 to lead Bangladesh to an easy eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Ashraful hit 103 not out and Iqbal made 63 as the visitors reached their target of 208 with more than 15 overs in hand.

Junaid Siddique was the only other Bangladesh casualty, as Raqibul Hasan joined Ashraful to steer them home.

Mark Vermeulen had earlier posted 92 before being run out as Zimbabwe reached 207 all out from 47.5 overs.

Ashraful smashed 12 fours and two sixes in 103 balls as Bangladesh made 211-2.

"The last two years I was captain and I didn't bat that well," said Ashraful, who was replaced as skipper by Mashrafe Mortaza in June.

"Now, I'm playing better and enjoying my cricket. I am more relaxed."

Bangladesh pace bowler Najmul Hossain took 3-29 as Zimbabwe failed to make much out of a batsman-friendly Bulawayo wicket.

We lost too many wickets and should have applied ourselves more Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya

Vermeulen put on 48 with Brendan Taylor, who scored 19 before Shakib Al Hasan trapped him lbw to make it 74-3 in the 21st over.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals, with Elton Chigumbura (20) and Charles Coventry (19) the only other Zimbabwean batsmen to get a start.

"We lost too many wickets and should have applied ourselves more," Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya said.

"We needed to keep wickets in hand and attack in the middle overs."

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