BULAWAYO: Bangladesh crushed Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the first of three one-day internationals at the Queen's Sports Club here on Sunday.

Zimbabwe, put in to bat after Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field, were restricted to 207 before Mohammad Ashraful's third one-day century lifting the tourists to the win.

The hosts' Mark Vermeulen scored an impressive 92 returning after five years in the wilderness.

The left-arm spin bowling of Ray Price was in particular meat and drink to Ashraful, who continually smacked him to the boundary.

The seamers were also unable to cope as Ashraful took his one-day career total beyond 3000 runs.

Bangladesh arrived in Zimbabwe having won the Test and ODI series in the West Indies.

The second match is on Tuesday and the third on Friday.