'Little disappointed in our batting unit': Miraz rues Tigers' ODI opener defeat against Zimbabwe

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz admitted he was "a little disappointed" with his side's batting after the Tigers slipped to a 25-run defeat in the first ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare on Monday, squandering a record-breaking bowling performance from Nahid Rana.

Nahid produced the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh bowler in ODI history, returning 6 for 21 to bowl Zimbabwe out for 141. However, Bangladesh crumbled for 116 in reply, with another batting collapse reminiscent of their struggles in the one-off Test.

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"We bowled really well, especially Nahid. He took six wickets and it was exceptional," Miraz said at the post-match presentation. "They got a partnership (between Richard Ngarava and Newman Nyamhuri), and those were crucial runs. Little disappointed in our batting unit."

Nahid surpassed the previous Bangladesh ODI record of 6 for 26, jointly held by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Rubel Hossain. Mashrafe achieved the feat against Kenya in Nairobi in 2006, while Rubel matched it against New Zealand in Mirpur in 2013.

Zimbabwe looked set for an even lower total after slumping to 70 for eight, but a vital 63-run stand between Ngarava (27)and Nyamhuri (33) lifted the hosts to 141.

Bangladesh's top order failed to mount any meaningful resistance in the chase. Only Towhid Hridoy (25 off 58) and Nurul Hasan (31 off 44) crossed 20 as Ngarava and Brad Evans claimed three wickets each, while Blessing Muzarabani and Nyamhuri picked up two apiece.

Miraz felt Bangladesh could also have done more to prevent Zimbabwe's lower order from adding valuable runs.

"The last few series, the way he [Nahid] has been bowling, it has been excellent. We can do better, but we have to bowl in the right areas. Both batters played really well during that partnership," he said.

Reflecting on the top-order collapse, Miraz added: "If you get a partnership in the first 10 overs, it would have been better, but we did not get it."