Mosaddek, Liton set up Tigers’ seven-wicket win in second T20

All-rounder Mosaddek Hossain’s maiden Twenty20 international fifer and Liton Das’s sixth fifty helped Bangladesh win the second T20I by seven wickets as they levelled the three-match series at the Harare Sports Ground on Sunday.

Newly appointed interim skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan in the process got his first win as captain as Tigers will look to seal the series in the decider on Tuesday.

On Sunday’s match, Bangladesh restricted Zimbabwe to 135-8, courtesy of Mosaddek, who started by picking up opener Regis Chakabva with the very first delivery of the innings.

The off-spinner went on to pick up a fifer and equalled the second-best T20i figures by a Bangladesh bowler, replicating Shakib Al Hasan’s 5-20.

Pacer Hasan Mahmud produced an impressive performance on his return to the national side as he returned with figures of 1-26. The young fast-bowler stood out in the death with his strict line and lengths, while his fellow experienced fast-bowler Mustafizur Rahman picked up a solitary wicket, giving away 30 runs.

Zimbabwe were reduced to 31-5 at the end of seven overs but managed to stage a recovery, courtesy of in-form all-rounder Sikandar Raza and batsman Ryan Burl.

Raza continued his good form with the bat and top-scored with 62 runs off 53 deliveries as he hit four fours and two sixes while stitching an 80-run partnership with Burl, who scored 32 runs off 31 balls.

In reply, Bangladesh got off to a quick start, courtesy of Liton Das, who played some exquisite shots and was indifferent to fellow opener Munim Shahriar, who failed to make it count yet again as he perished for seven runs off eight balls.

Liton completed his sixth half-century in T20Is off just 33 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes in the process. The right-handed batsman strung up a 41-run partnership with Anamul Haque, whose dismal run continued as he got dismissed for 15 runs off 13 deliveries.

Afif Hossain and Najmul Hossain Shanto put together a partnership of 55 runs off 48 deliveries to take the Tigers over the line.

Though sluggish, their partnership ensured Bangladesh’s win without jitters or nerves.

Afif remained unbeaten on 30 runs off 28 deliveries, with a solitary boundary, while Shanto played an under-100 strike rate inning of 19 runs off 21 deliveries as he hit the winning runs in Bangladesh’s seven-wicket victory with 15 balls remaining.