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Khulna: Bangladesh ensured it wouldn’t lose the four-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe, easing to a 42-run win in the second match at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on Sunday.
Sabbir Rahman was the star for Bangladesh, contributing with both bat and ball to win the man of the match award. His unbeaten 30-ball 43 helped Bangladesh post 167 for 3 before he returned figures of 3 for 11 to help restrict Zimbabwe to 125 for 8. The victory helped Bangladesh go 2-0 up in the series, following its four-wicket win in the first match on Friday.
After Mashrafe Mortaza chose to bat, Bangladesh was largely unthreatened. Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar put on 45 for the opening wicket within six overs before Tamim went for a slog-sweep off Taurai Muzarabani and was caught at fine-leg for a 17-ball 23.
Soumya carried on, with Sabbir for company, to reach 43 off 33 balls but couldn’t complete a maiden half-century in the format, holing out to long-on off Graeme Cremer. Mahmdullah then lasted just three balls as Zimbabwe hit back and reduced the home side to 76 for 3.
Thereafter, however, it was mostly all Bangladesh. Zimbabwe could have dismissed Sabbir when he top-edged Cremer, but it deviated too far away from Richmond Mutumbami, the wicketkeeper who couldn’t get his hands around it. Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir then pressed on the gas, putting on 52 for the fourth wicket, Sabbir putting away three sixes along the way.
The association came to an unfortunate end when Rahim retired hurt with a hamstring problem, but Shakib Al Hasan walked in and took charge, hammering a 17-ball unbeaten 27 to boost the total and set Zimbabwe a tricky target of 168.
Zimbabwe started its chase well. Hamilton Masakadza, leading the side in the absence of Elton Chigumbura, and Vusi Sibanda put on 50 for the opening wicket, with both batsmen aware of the need for a solid foundation. The stand was broken in the seventh over, when Mortaza brought himself on and bowled Sibanda for a 17-ball 21.
In the same over, Masakadza was dropped twice on 24, but he couldn’t capitalise on the lifelines. Sabbir dismissed him for a 28-ball 30 two overs later, and Zimbabwe struggled to stitch together a partnership thereafter. Sean Williams was trapped in front by Shuvagata Hom and Mutumbami became Sabbir’s second wicket as Zimbabwe was reduced to 68 for 4.
Malcolm Waller resisted with a quick 21-ball 29, including three sixes, to take Zimbabwe past the 100-run mark, but after he was dismissed by Al-Amin Hossain, the tail was contained, and Bangladesh sealed an emphatic win.
Brief scores
Bangladesh - 167 for 3 (Sarkar 43, Sabbir 43)
Zimbabwe - 125 for 8 (Masakadza 30, Waller 29, Sabbir 3-11)
Result - Bangladesh won by 42 runs
MOM - Sabbir Rahman (Bangladesh)
