Bangladesh taste 17-run defeat to Zimbabwe in 1st T20

Dhaka, 30 July - Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhevere made a  mockery with Bangladeshi bowlers to help Zimbabwe secure a 17-run victory in  the first T20 game of the three-match series at Harare Sports Club today. 

Raza blasted a an unbeaten 65 off just 26, smashing seven fours and four sixes while Madhevere who retired hurt in the last over scored 67 off 46, sending the ball across the rope for nine times as Zimbabwe racked up a hefty 205-3, their second highest T20 total in their history.

Their highest T20 total of 236 came against Singapore earlier this month in the qualifying tournament for the 2022 T20 World Cup. 

The bowlers then backed up their excellent batting by restricting 
Bangladesh to 188-6 even though interim captain Nurul Hasan Sohan tried his best, smacking a 42 not out off 26.

No other batters of the Bangladesh team, which is formed without any senior players for this series, could show the resolve which Sohan demonstrated.

But the damage was done in bowling after Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine chose to bat first. Bangladesh may be without any senior players but their bowling line up comprised with Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and spinner Nasum Ahmed was their first choice attack.

But these bowlers were completely incompetent against a comparatively inexperienced Zimbabwe side. Mustafizur Rahman, considered as one of the best bowlers in T20 format, gave away 50 runs in his four overs although he took two wickets. Taskin and Shoriful conceded 42 and 45 runs respectively in their four overs and went wicketless.

Mustafizur gave Bangladesh the breakthrough in the third over, 
dismissing Regis Chakabva for 8.

Mosaddek then took the key wicket of Ervine after he scored 21 as 
Zimbabwe were left to 43-2 after the first powerplay.

Madhevere and Sean Williams added 56 runs for the third wicket to lay a solid platform before Mustafizur undid the latter with a slower for 33.

Raza was survived on 3 when Taskin dropped a tough chance at fine leg of Mustafizur bowling but he then bludgeoned the Bangladeshi bowler in some style to keep the side soaring high. 

Madhevere played patiently yet fluently to keep the visitors at bay. With their contrasting approach they shared 91-run off just 38 balls to help the side propel past 200 runs mark.

In a batting track, which had short boundaries in two sides, Bangladesh still had the chance even though they previously scored 200 plus runs thrice in their history.

However it was eventually not to be. Zimbabwe left-arm spinner 
Welliongton Masakadza dismissed Munim Shahriar for 4 in the second over to give the side a breakthrough. 

Liton Das kept the side in the hunt and in the process became the sixth Bangladeshi batter in this format to complete 1000 runs. However he was run out bizarrely after scoring 32 off 19.

Despite his dismissal, Bangladesh were still in the match but the likes of Anamul Haque Bijoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto failed to prolong their knock. Bijoy was out on 26 while Shanto was removed for 37.

Skipper Sohan then battled lonely but only could reduce the margin of the defeat. Sohan hit one four and four sixes for his 42 not out.

Fast bowler Luke Jongwe who baffled Bangladesh with slower took 2-34 while Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza and Sikandar Raza snared one wicket apiece.