DHAKA — Opener Imrul Kayes struck his career-best 144 off 140 balls to set up an easy 28-run win for Bangladesh in the first One-Day International of a three-match series against Zimbabwe here Sunday.

Kayes shared a record 127-run stand with all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin for the seventh wicket as the hosts recovered from 139-6 to post 271-8 after electing to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Saifuddin made 50 off 69 balls — his maiden half-century in his fourth ODI — before Bangladeshi bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 243-9 for their 11th successive win over Zimbabwe.

Spinners Mehidy Hasan (3-46) and Nazmul Islam (2-38) recorded their career-best bowling figures as Zimbabwe struggled to get its momentum back after Bangladesh's batting onslaught.

Sean Williams and Kyle Jarvis offered late resistance with a 67-run ninth wicket stand after eight wickets fell for 169 runs.

But Mahmudullah removed Jarvis for 37 before the pair could pose any threat to Bangladesh.

Williams remained unbeaten on 50 after facing 58 balls and hitting five boundaries.

Kayes, who hit 13 fours and six sixes, earlier held one end firm after the Zimbabwe pacers made some early breakthroughs to put the home side under pressure.

Mohammad Mithun (37) helped Kayes put 71 runs for the fourth wicket before medium pacer Jarvis claimed three wickets in nine balls to leave the hosts in disarray.

Kayes and Saifuddin then mixed their aggression with caution to amble past Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem Islam's seventh wicket partnership record of 101 runs against New Zealand at Dunedin in 2010.

"We lost too many wickets early and that put a lot of pressure. But Imrul (Kayes) batted professionally and our bowling was nice," said Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza after the game.

Kayes — declared the Man of the Match — brought up his hundred off 118 balls but added 44 off the next 22 balls he faced.

"I tried my best when I went in to bat. The wicket was not easy to bat. I had to be patient," he said.

Jarvis ended Kaye's onslaught when he forced the left-hander to give a catch to Peter Moor at extra cover in the penultimate over.

Jarvis claimed four wickets for 37 runs while Tendai Chatara returned with 3-55.

The second and third match of the series will be held at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Oct. 24 and 26.

Scoreboard

Bangladesh

L. Das c Zhuwao b Chatara 04

I. Kayes c Moor b Jarvis 144

F. Mahmud c Taylor b Chatara 00

M. Rahim c Taylor b Mavuta 15

M. Mithun c Taylor b Jarvis 37

M. Riyad c Taylor b Jarvis 00

M. Hasan c Taylor b Jarvis 01

M. Saifuddin c Mavuta b Chatara 50

M. Mortaza not out 02

M. Rahman not out 01

Extras (b1, lb1, w14, nb1) 17

Total (50 overs, 8 wickets) 271

Falls: 1-16 (Liton), 2-17 (Fazle), 3-66 (Mushfiqur), 4-137 (Mithun), 5-137 (Mahmudullah), 6-139 (Mehidy), 7-266 (Kayes), 8-267 (Saifuddin).

Did not bat: Nazmul Islam.

Bowling: Jarvis 9-1-37-4, Chatara 10-1-55-3 (w4, nb1), Tiripano 10-0-60-0 (w3), Mavuta 8-0-48-1 (w4), Raza 6-0-37-0, Williams 7-0-32-0 (w3).

Zimbabwe

H. Masakadza run out 21

C. Zhuwao b Mustafizur 35

B. Taylor b Nazmul 05

C. Ervine b Mehidy 24

S. Raza b Nazmul 07

S. Williams not out 50

P. Moor lbw b Mehidy 26

D. Tiripano run out 02

B. Mavuta c&b Mehidy 20

K. Jarvis c Mushfiqur b Mahmudullah 37

Tendai Chatara not out 02

Extras (b3, lb3, w7, nb1) 14

Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 243

Falls: 1-48 (Zhuwao), 2-59 (Taylor), 3-63 (Masakadza), 4-88 (Raza), 5-100 (Ervine), 6-145 (Moor), 7-148 (Tiripano), 8-169 (Mavuta), 9-236 (Jarvis).

Bowling: Mortaza 10-0-55-0 (w1, nb1), Mehidy 10-0-46-3, Mustafizur 8-1-29-1 (w3), Nazmul 8-0-38-2 (w1), Saifuddin 7-1-29-0, Mahmudullah 4-0-24-1, Fazle 3-0-16-0 (w2). — AFP