Dhaka: After winning their fifth home ODI series in a row, Bangladesh took a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20I series as they beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in Mirpur. The bowlers did the job for the hosts as they restricted Zimbabwe to just 131 in 19.3 overs.
Bangladesh replaced two of their players from the ODI squad – Anamul Haque and T20 debutant Jubair Hossain came in place of Imrul Kayes and Arafat Sunny. Zimbabwe also made a couple of changes to their squad that played in the third ODI. Tendai Chisoro and Neville Madziva replaced Taurai Muzarabani and Chamu Chibhabha for the visitors.
The hosts bundled Zimbabwe out for 131 runs in 19.3 overs in a docile wicket before easily reaching 136-6 in 17.4 overs to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.
Waller struck 68 runs off 31 balls as Zimbabwe recovered from a disastrous start to get a decent score.
Cremer then finished with 3-29, including two wickets in one over, but they were not good enough for the visitors to end their dismal run in the tour.
Tamim Iqbal scored highest with 31 runs for the hosts while Mahmudullah added an unbeaten 22 to take Bangladesh home.
Mashrafe Mortaza, unbeaten on 15, hit Luke Jongwe a straight to six to end the game with more than two overs to spare.
Mortaza won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision bore fruit as he and Al-Amin Hossain struck early to reduce Zimbabwe to 10-3 inside three overs before Sean Williams (15) and Craig Ervine (20) offered some resistance.
Waller joined Ervine after spinner Nasir Hossain bowled Williams to leave Zimbabwe tottering at 38-4.
Waller launched an immediate counter attack to take 17 runs off debutant leg-spinner Jubair Hossain's first over.
He then scored 20 off the next over by Nasir and completed his 50 off just 20 balls, Zimbabwe's quickest in Twenty20 internationals.
Waller, who hit a total of four fours and sixes, was eventually dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman as Liton Das took a catch at deep midwicket.
Mustafizur claimed 2-16 while Mortaza, Al-Amin and Jubair each grabbed two wickets by giving away 20 runs each.
Brief scores
Zimbabwe - 131 (Waller 68, Mustafizur Rahman 2-16)
Bangladesh - 136/6 (Tamim Iqbal 31, Cremer 3-29, Chisoro 2-15)
Result - Bangladesh won by 4 wickets
MOM - Malcolm Waller (Zimbabwe)