Bangladesh 126 for two (Tanzid 67*, Towhid 33*) beat Zimbabwe 124 (Madande 43, Taskin 3-14, Saifuddin 3-15) by eight wickets wickets
Zimbabwe’s 124 was their lowest complete towards Bangladesh – the earlier low was 131 in 2015 – however it might have been decrease after they slipped to 41 for 7. Taskin Ahmed and the returning Mohammad Saifuddin took three wickets every whereas Mahedi Hasan bowled economically for his two scalps.
Bennett’s shiny begin
Zimbabwe collapse
Taskin Ahmed’s first over, stuffed with 140 kph-plus deliveries, was an omen for Zimbabwe’s subsequent half hour. Bennett and debutant Joylord Gumbie struggled to attach with most of his deliveries, however the subsequent dismissal was a tender one towards Mohammad Saifuddin. Gumbie swivelled awkwardly at a poor supply down the leg-side and gave Taskin a easy catch at brief fine-leg.
Bennett was run out first ball of the sixth over, after which Mahedi Hasan dismissed Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza for a golden duck. Raza’s try at a lap sweep resulted in him gloving a catch to slide. Three wickets had fallen off three balls, after which Taskin dismissed Sean Williams and Ryan Burl with the primary two deliveries of the seventh over. When Saifuddin received Juke Jongwe out for two, Zimbabwe had gone from 36 for 1 to 41 for 7 in 17 balls.
Madande and Masakadza’s report stand
Muzarabani very good begin goes bitter
Blessing Muzarabani gave Zimbabwe the right begin to the defence of 124 when he received his second ball to scissor by way of Litton Das’ ahead press. Litton’s white-ball distress continued with scores of 0, 36, 7, 0, 0 and now 1 in 2024.
In his subsequent over although, Muzarabani first collided with wicketkeeper Gumbie when Tanzid had skied a catch. The ball was excessive above the batter himself however Muzarabani wandered near the advancing Gumbie, earlier than the wicketkeeper dropped the catch as they collided.
Later within the over, Bennett dropped a sitter at cowl off Tanzid, who was on 4 on the time. In Muzarabani’s subsequent over, Tanzid smashed two sixes and a 4 by way of midwicket to exacerbate the bowler’s disappointment.
Tanzid cashes in
It took Tanzid 14 balls to attain his first boundary on T20I debut, however as soon as he laid into Muzarabani within the sixth over, the left-hander appeared extra relaxed. After the second rain break, Tanzid struck a few fours off Luke Jongwe, and one other pair received him near his fifty.
Bangladesh misplaced Najmul Hossain Shanto within the tenth over for 21, however Tanzid loved some extra luck. He received a 3rd life when Gumbie dropped him for a second time on 56. Towhid Hridoy struck Ainsley Ndlovu, who had come on as a concussion sub for Masakadza, for 15 runs in his first over. Hridoy remained not out on 33 off 18 balls, as Tanzid struck the successful runs with 28 balls to spare within the chase.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
