Bangladesh completed their second-highest run chase in twenty20 internationals as they chased down 194 to seal the three-match series against Zimbabwe.
Batting first, Zimbabwe had put on 193 for five on board, courtesy of a second consecutive fifty from Wesley Madhevere and some brilliant hitting from Regis Chakabva and Ryan Burl.
Bangladesh chased down the total quite easily, thanks to Soumya Sarkar’s career-best 68 and a brilliant cameo of 31 runs from 15 balls from youngster Shamim Hossain at the end, with skipper Mahmudullah Riyad chipping in with 34.
For the third time in the series, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza won the toss and decided to bat first. Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani brought them a flying start as the duo put up 63 in just six overs.
After Marumani perished in the final ball of the powerplay, Chakabva walked in and kept bludgeoning the Bangladesh bowlers as he scored 48 runs off just 22 deliveries, hitting six sixes.
He was sent back because of a brilliant piece of fielding from Naim Sheikh. Chakabva’s shot off Soumya was bound for a maximum but Naim at the boundary not only saved it but pulled it back in the air for Shamim Hossain to complete the catch.
Madhevere picked up his second consecutive fifty, and after his dismissal on 54, it looked like the hosts would struggle to reach anything near 200.
But Burl’s knock of 31 from 15 deliveries made sure that they reached 193. Burl was hostile towards Mohammad Saifuddin, who conceded 35 in his last two overs.
In reply, Bangladesh lost opener Naim early, but a quickfire 25 off 13 deliveries from Shakib kept Bangladesh in the match.
After Shakib’s dismissal, Mahmudullah and Soumya put up a 35-ball stand of 63 runs as Soumya picked up his fifth T20I fifty.
Soumya went for 68, but Mahmudullah held on to the other end as Afif Hossain came in and struck a couple of sixes to bring the run rate further down.
After Afif was dismissed by Wellington Masakadza, in came Shamim. And his blistering cameo, where he hit six boundaries, paved the way for Bangladesh’s victory.
Mahmudullah was finally dismissed in the 19th over off Blessing Muzurabani when Chakabva took a brilliant catch behind the stumps. But with only seven required from eight balls, Bangladesh were almost home by then.
