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As predicted, Zimbabwe last night won their second match of the Meril International Cricket Tournament. They defeated hosts Bangladesh by a comprehensive margin of 126 runs at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Chasing a mammoth Zimbabwe total of 310 in 50 overs, Bangladesh once again showed a lack of match temperament as they were shot out for 184 in 42.2 overs. Thanks, however, to workmanlike 73 by opener Mehrab Hossain, Bangladesh were saved from downright humiliation.

Bangladesh, who lost their opening match to Kenya by eight wickets on the previous night, were off to a horrible start when they lost their two top order batsmen in three overs for only seven runs.

Opener Shahriar Hossain, who scored 95 against Kenya on Saturday, was first to go when he was run out in the last ball of the second over having scored only five runs.

Shahriar, after pushing Mbangwa to the mid-off region, tried to take a quick single but failed to make good his ground before a direct hit from Neil Johnson uprooting the stumps.

One-down Jahangir could not open his account and was trapped legbefore to Eddo Brandes in the next over.

The situation turned worse for the home side when skipper Aminul Islam, on 13, offered a simple catch to Grant Flower at point while trying to cut Brandes in the ninth over. That left Bangladesh in dire straits of 26 for three.

However, former national skipper Akram Khan and Mehrab somewhat grafted the innings, adding 43 runs for the fourth wicket.

The partnership was broken in the 17th over when left-arm spinner Viljoen showed Akram his way with a brilliant return catch. Akram scored 22 runs off 27 balls with four boundaries.

All-rounder Naimur Rahman (18) then added another 32 runs with Mehrab for the fifth wicket before being bowled by off-spinner Adam Huckle in the 22nd over.

Khaled Mahmud (22) shared a 46-run sixth wicket partnership with Mehrab. The stand was broken in the 33rd over when Mahmud was brilliantly caught by Johnson at mid-on off a Viljoen delivery.

In his 35-ball vigil, Mahmud hammered a huge six off Viljoen in the 27th over. He also hit three boundaries.

Mehrab kept his cool as wickets tumbled at the other end at regular intervals, losing two more partners - Rafique (4) and Enamul (8) - in quick succession. Soon after, he was caught at mid-wicket while trying to pull Zimbabwe skipper Alistair Campbell. Bangladesh were on 184 at that point.

Mehrab hammered six boundaries for his polished 73 from 109 balls.

Bangladesh lost their last wicket on the same score when Hasibul was out on 14. His short knock included one six and a four.

For Zimbabwe, Eddo Brandes, Viljoen, Campbell and Grant Flower evenly shared eight wickets.

Earlier, opting to bat first, Zimbabwe amassed 310 for six in the stipulated 50 overs with left-handed middle-order Andy Flower hammering highest 79 off 97 balls.

Coming in to bat at number four with Zimbabwe firmly placed on 70 in the 11th over, Andy shared a 44-run partnership with Goodwin (43) before the latter was stumped by wicketkeeper Jahangir Alam off a Naimur Rahman delivery.

Andy then went on to share a 125-run partnership for the fourth wicket with captain Alistair Campbell, who chipped in with 55 off 71 balls.

Off-spinner Naimur Rahman broke the partnership by trapping Campbell leg-before in the 42nd over.

Andy, who won his second successive man-of-the-match award, then added another 33 runs with Carlisle before he was run out in the 47th over.

Third umpire VK Ramaswamy took more than 10 minutes to decide Andy's fate because of poor handling of the video equipment by the Bangladesh Television crew.

Apart from Andy and Campbell, opener Grant Flower contributed 37 off 38 balls while middle-order Carlisle scored a quick-fire 35 off 20 balls with two sixes and two fours.

For Bangladesh, new-ball bowler Shafiuddin Ahmed and off-spinner Naimur Rahman took two wickets each conceding 38 and 51 runs respectively.

The three-nation tournament, also involving Kenya, will have a rest day today before the second leg of the round robin league begins from tomorrow. Zimbabwe take on Kenya in their return clash on Tuesday.