ODI

BAN vs ZIM Tri-Series 2026: Zimbabwe Thrash Bangladesh by 99

Published on October 18, 2026

Summary Overview: Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 99 runs in the ODI tri-series opener in Abu Dhabi. Craig Ervine hit 93, Brendan Taylor 81 and Brad Evans took 4 for 45. Full squads, scorecard highlights.

Who won? Zimbabwe, by 99 runs. They made 271 for 8 in 50 overs and bowled Bangladesh out for 172 in 33.4 overs.

Who starred? Craig Ervine (93 off 106) and Brendan Taylor (81 off 101) put on 150 for the fourth wicket after Zimbabwe were 24 for 3. Brad Evans then took 4 for 45.

What does it mean? Zimbabwe top the table after the opening game with a big net run rate boost. Bangladesh now need to beat hosts Afghanistan to have a chance of reaching the final.

What's next? Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe on Monday, October 19 in Abu Dhabi.

Match Report: Zimbabwe Recover, Then Run Away With It

For readers new to cricket: in a One Day International (ODI), each team bats for up to 50 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by runs when it bats first and the other side falls short of its total. Zimbabwe's 99-run margin is a heavy defeat for Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe's Innings: Taskin Strikes, Ervine and Taylor Rebuild

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and chose to bat, and it started badly. Taskin Ahmed trapped Brian Bennett lbw for a duck in the first over, then removed Ben Curran (6) and Tafadzwa Tsiga (16). Zimbabwe were 24 for 3 in the seventh over.

That brought together two of Zimbabwe's most experienced batters. Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor batted patiently, then pushed on, adding 150 off 176 balls for the fourth wicket. Taylor hit 10 fours in his 81 off 101 before part-time spinner Saif Hassan had him caught at 174.

Saif struck again when Raza fell for 4, and Ervine fell seven short of a century, caught behind off Shoriful Islam for 93 off 106. At 234 for 8 in the 46th over, Bangladesh would have hoped to keep the total under 250.

Instead, tailenders Newman Nyamhuri and Wellington Masakadza both hit 21 not out, adding 37 off 26 balls to lift Zimbabwe to 271 for 8. Taskin was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 44.

Bangladesh's Chase: Quick Start, Then Collapse

Tanzid Hasan Tamim gave Bangladesh a fast start, hitting nine fours in 46 off 38 balls. Bangladesh scored 66 in the first 10 overs, the powerplay (the opening overs when fielding restrictions apply).

But they lost Soumya Sarkar for 9, and Tanzid fell in the 10th over. Brad Evans then trapped Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw for 4 two balls later, and Bangladesh were 68 for 3.

Nobody built a big innings after that. Captain Towhid Hridoy (13) and Mosaddek Hossain (11) fell lbw to the spin of Raza and Masakadza, and Saif Hassan made 26 before Masakadza had him caught by Taylor. Bangladesh slid from 123 for 5 to 129 for 8, and Evans wrapped things up with a caught-and-bowled to finish with 4 for 45.

Turning Point: The 150-Run Stand

At 24 for 3, Zimbabwe were in serious trouble against a sharp Taskin Ahmed. A total of 180 or 200 looked likely.

Ervine and Taylor changed the whole game. They survived the new ball, rotated the strike and scored freely once settled. Their 150-run partnership turned a poor start into a total Bangladesh never looked like chasing.

Stat Corner

Top Performers

Player	Team	Performance
Craig Ervine	Zimbabwe	93 (106), 9 fours
Brendan Taylor	Zimbabwe	81 (101), 10 fours
Brad Evans	Zimbabwe	4 for 45 (6.4 overs)
Wellington Masakadza	Zimbabwe	21* (15) and 2 for 18 (6 overs)
Sikandar Raza	Zimbabwe	2 for 28 (7 overs)
Blessing Muzarabani	Zimbabwe	1 for 23 (8 overs)
Taskin Ahmed	Bangladesh	3 for 44 (10 overs) and 16*
Tanzid Hasan Tamim	Bangladesh	46 (38), 9 fours, 1 six
Saif Hassan	Bangladesh	26 (37) and 2 for 17 (3 overs)

* not out

How the Game Turned

Moment	Score
Taskin's early burst	Zimbabwe 24 for 3 (6.6 overs)
Ervine and Taylor stand	150 off 176 balls for the 4th wicket
Late hitting	37 off 26 balls for the 9th wicket (unbroken)
Zimbabwe final total	271 for 8 (50 overs)
Bangladesh powerplay	66 for 2 (10 overs)
The collapse	123 for 5 to 129 for 8
Bangladesh all out	172 (33.4 overs)

Powerplay Comparison

Team	First 10 overs
Zimbabwe	30 for 3
Bangladesh	66 for 2

Bangladesh won the powerplay by 36 runs but still lost by 99.

Squads

Zimbabwe

Role	Players
Playing XI	Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza (c), Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani
Bench	Ryan Burl, Ernest Masuku, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Vincent Masekesa

Bangladesh

Role	Players
Playing XI	Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy (c), Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Bench	Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Tanvir Islam, Aliss Al Islam

Litton Das is Bangladesh's named ODI captain but did not play in this match, so vice-captain Towhid Hridoy led the side.

Tri-Series Table After Match 1

Team	Played	Won	Lost	Net Run Rate
Zimbabwe	1	1	0	+1.980
Afghanistan	0	0	0	0.000
Bangladesh	1	0	1	-1.980

Net run rate compares how fast a team scores with how fast its opponents score. A team that is bowled out is counted as having faced its full 50 overs.

What's Next

Match	Date	Fixture	Venue	Local (GST)	IST	Pakistan	ET
2nd Match	Mon, Oct 19	Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe	Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	3:30 PM	5:00 PM	4:30 PM	7:30 AM
3rd Match	Wed, Oct 21	Afghanistan vs Bangladesh	Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	3:30 PM	5:00 PM	4:30 PM	7:30 AM
Final	Fri, Oct 23	Top two teams	Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi	3:30 PM	5:00 PM	4:30 PM	7:30 AM

Local time is Gulf Standard Time (GST, UTC+4). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Pakistan is on PKT (UTC+5). ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). In the UK, matches start at 12:30 PM (BST). Times are based on the opening match's 3:30 PM start, so check closer to each game.

What Bangladesh need: a win over Afghanistan on October 21. Even then, they may need a big margin to overturn Zimbabwe's or Afghanistan's net run rate.