Bulawayo: Half-centuries from openers Saif Hasan and Tansit Hasan and four wickets from Rishad Hossain helped Bangladesh win the second T20I of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe by 34 runs.
The win helped Bangladesh level the three-match series 1-1 at the same venue where the home team won the opener by 32 runs, which will also host Sunday’s decider.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza’s decision to field first in the recently concluded match backfired as the visitors amassed a mammoth total of 186/5 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a monumental opening partner.
Saif and Danzith laid a solid foundation for a defendable score by posting a 120-run partnership.
Zimbabwean captain Raza finally broke the partnership in the 15th over with Saif’s 55 off 45 balls with 8 fours and a six to break the partnership, followed by Danzith in the next over with a top score of 58 off 44 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Bangladesh skipper Dawhid Hiridoi (six), Parvez Hossain Eman (one) and Nurul Hasan (four) lost three wickets in quick succession.
Following a three-run deficit, bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin teamed up with middle-order batsman Yasir Ali and the duo added 45 runs to Bangladesh’s total in 19 balls to neutralize Zimbabwe’s comeback with the ball.
Saifuddin scored an unbeaten 31 off 10 balls with 4 sixes, while Yasir remained unbeaten on 22 off 12 balls.
For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans and Nagarawa took 2 wickets each and captain Raza took one wicket.
Chasing a tough target of 187 runs, the team’s batting unit could muster 152 runs in 19.4 overs.
All-rounder Ryan Burl top-scored for Chevrons with a spirited 29 off 19 balls, followed by skipper Raza with 28, while Evans scored a notable 25 off 14 balls.
Leg-break bowler Hossain sparked Bangladesh’s bowling with 4 for 26 in his 3.4 overs, Mahedi Hasan claimed 3 wickets and Nahid Rana, Saif Hasan and Saifuddin claimed a scalp each.
For his 31-run cameo and decent bowling figures of 1/36 from his four overs, Saipuddin was adjudged Man of the Match.