Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first Twenty20 worldwide to take a 1-0 lead in a two-match series in Dhaka on Friday.
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But ultimately the tourists’ 131 for nine, inflated by 68 from Malcolm Waller, proved insufficient as Mahmudullah and Mashrafe guided their side home.
Leading 31 runs from Tamim Iqbal stabled Bangladesh at that time.
Bangladesh, however, will hope the absence of Soumya Sarkar and Rubel Hossain (injured), as well as Shakib Al Hasan (on paternity leave) will not be felt.
Zimbabwe were indebted to Waller’s 31-ball knock, which included six sixes, for being competitive at all.
Waller brought up his half-century in 20 deliveries, the fastest for a Zimbabwe player in T20I. The home team has a few quality game and can fetch another series easily. “We could have gathered more runs on the board”.
The innings was resurrected by a 67-run stand between Craig Ervine (20) and Malcolm Waller (68).
Mustafizur Rahman removed Waller in the 18th over to give Bangladesh relief.
Bangladesh’s Jubair Hossain successfully makes an appeal for the dismissal of Zimbabwe’s Luke Jo …
At the second over of the match, pacer Al-Amin Hossain took RW Chakabva’s wicket at Zimbabwe’s 8 runs.
In pursuit of 132, Bangladesh lost Anamul Haque in the first over but a convincing victory looked to be set up by the untroubled Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman.
Until the spinners started operating.
Nasir Hossain blasted 16 off 12 balls and Mahmudullah was not-out for 21 runs while Liton Das gathered 17 off 22 balls. His innings included four fours and six sixes.
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Cremer took 3-29, and Chisoro 2-15.
