Host Bangladesh secured a nervy three-wicket win against Zimbabwe in their first match of the tri-nation T20I series against Zimbabwe in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Friday.
Chasing 145 to win, the Tigers were struggling on 60 for the loss of six wickets in 9.3 overs.
But a brilliant display of batting from Afif Hossain (52) and Mosaddek Hossain (30*) in the lower middle-order saw the Tigers reach their target with two balls to spare and make a winning start to the tri-series.
Earlier, the match was curtailed to 18 overs owing to wet outfield and persistent rain.
@BCBtigers all-rounder @Sah75official conceded 30 runs in one over against Ryan Burl in the 16th over, the third last over of the innings.https://t.co/8aqmYsfWbU#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #SHAKIBALHASAN #SHAKIB #ZIMBABWECRICKET #ZIMBABWE
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 13, 2019
The game was delayed by an hour and 30 minutes and started at 8pm local time.
Shakib had won the toss and as expected, elected to bowl first.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam made his T20I debut.
Tigers start impressively with ball
Bangladesh made a good start to the innings as debutant Taijul removed the experienced Brendan Taylor in the first ball of the second over.
This was the first ball of Taijul’s T20I career.
Zimbabwe formed a good second-wicket partnership as captain Hamilton Masakadza led the charge with Craig Ervine.
These two put on 44 off 30 deliveries before Ervine lost his wicket against Mustafizur Rahman in the seventh over.
Zimbabwe were on the back foot in the next 10 deliveries as they lost three more wickets - Masakadza (34), Sean Williams (two) and Timycen Maruma (one).
In the 10th over of the innings, Zimbabwe were reeling on 63/5 and Bangladesh were on top.
Zimbabwe finish strongly with bat
Zimbabwe lower-middle order batsmen Ryan Burl and Tinotenda Mutombodzi then offered resistance, remaining unbeaten until the end of the innings.
The visiting side eventually put up a challenging total of 144 for the loss of five wickets in 18 overs.
Burl was particularly brilliant as the left-hander scored 57 off just 32 deliveries with five fours and four sixes.
Burl was harsh on Shakib, hammering 30 in the 16th over with three fours and as many sixes.
Mutombodzi was unbeaten on 27.
Bangladesh lose four wickets in 11 balls
Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar opened the innings in pursuit of 145.
Liton was the first batsman to get out scoring 19 off 14 deliveries.
The wicket fell in the last ball of the third over.
After that Bangladesh suffered a heavy collapse as, from 26/0, they went to 29/4 in 4.3 overs.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam made his T20I debut after playing 25 Test matches and half a dozen ODIs for the Tigers.https://t.co/YHN00Be5vh#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #TAIJULISLAM #TAJIUL #ISLAM #ZIMBABWE #ZC #ZIMBABWECRICKET
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 13, 2019
Within just 11 deliveries, Liton (19), Soumya (four), Mushfiqur Rahim (nought) and Shakib (one) all went back to the pavilion.
The target of 145 suddenly looked tough for Bangladesh at that point.
The situation became more intense for Bangladesh when Mahmudullah (14) lost his wicket in the first ball of the ninth over when the score was 56.
And in the very next over, Sabbir Rahman (15) was also gone and the Tigers were tottering on 60/6 in 9.3 overs.
Afif, Mosaddek revive Tigers
Afif and Mosaddek then turned the table for the Tigers, forming a superb 82-run partnership to lift the gloom.
More importantly, they scored quickly in their partnership, putting on 82 off just 47 deliveries.
Afif was particularly brilliant as the youngster, playing only his second T20I, scored a brilliant 52 off just 26 deliveries with eight fours and a six.
On the other hand, Mosaddek did the role of an anchor as he was unbeaten on 30 off 24 deliveries with two sixes.
Bangladesh needed five runs in the last over and Saifuddin (six not out) put the finishing touch.
1ST T20I
ZIMBABWE INNINGS R B
Taylor c Mahmudullah b Taijul 6 5
Masakadza c Sabbir b Saifuddin 34 26
Ervine c Mosaddek b Mustafizur 11 14
Williams c & b Mosaddek 2 3
Maruma run out (Shakib) 1 2
Burl not out 57 32
Mutombodzi not out 27 26
Extras (lb 2, w 4) 6
Total (18 Overs) 144/5
Fall Of Wickets
1-7 (Taylor), 2-51 (Ervine), 3-56 (Masakadza), 4-56 (Williams), 5-63 (Maruma)
Bowling
Shakib 4-0-49-0, Taijul 3-0-26-1, Saifuddin 4-0-26-1, Mustafizur 4-0-31-1, Mosaddek 3-0-10-1
BANGLADESH INNINGS R B
Liton b Chatara 19 14
Soumya c Madziva b Jarvis 4 7
Shakib c Masakadza b Chatara 1 3
Mushfiqur c Taylor b Jarvis 0 1
Mahmudullah lbw b Burl 14 16
Sabbir c Burl b Madziva 15 15
Mosaddek not out 30 24
Afif c Masakadza b Madziva 52 26
Saifuddin not out 6 2
Extras (b 1, lb 1, nb 2, w 3) 7
Total (17.4 overs) 148/7
Fall Of Wickets
1-26 (Liton), 2-26 (Soumya), 3-27 (Mushfiqur), 4-29 (Shakib), 5-56 (Mahmudullah), 6-60 (Sabbir), 7-142 (Afif)
Bowling
Williams 3-0-31-0, Jarvis 4-0-31-2, Chatara 4-0-32-2, Burl 3-0-27-1, Madziva 3.4-0-25-2
Bangladesh won by three wickets
MoM: Afif Hossain
