Suburban
Zimbabwe floundered once again on Thursday against Bangladesh in the first of the three T20Is as the visitors dominated yet again winning by 8 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) despite the hosts looking like they could post a formidable target.
Wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva top scored with 43 as Zimbabwe were all out for 152 in 19 overs but the Chevrons collapsed after a thrilling innings from Chakabva.
Zimbabwe were seeking to end the dominance of the visitors in an all-format tour having lost a one-off test and all three one-day internationals.
But they produced only one good partnership with Chakabva and opening batsman Wesley Madhevere putting on 64 runs for the second wicket.
Madhevere was first to go, caught and bowled by Shakib al Hasan in the eighth over. Chakabva departed 12 balls later after being run out by Nurul Hasan.
Chakabva averaged virtually two runs a ball, compiling a total including two sixes and five fours from 22 deliveries.
Madhevere was considerably less brisk with his 23 runs coming from as many balls and a single six was the highlight of his stay.
Dion Myers was the second highest scorer for Zimbabwe with 35 off 22 balls before being bowled by Shoriful Islam.
Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, taking the wickets of tail-enders Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani for a 3-31 return.
Bangladesh’s chase was rather fluent as well, until that man — Chakabva — managed some spectacular acrobatics to run Sarkar out to cause some hiccups in the Bangladesh chase. Another run-out ensued, in addition to a few half-chances, but eventually, Bangladesh, courtesy a clinical Naim, nailed the chase with seven balls to spare, as the hapless Zimbabwe bowlers gaped in agony at the empty wickets column.
What they said after the match:
Mahmudullah — Bangladesh captain: The situation was like that, I wanted to go from the first ball, and we wanted to show intent – credit to the top-order batters to set the platform. The bowlers took quick wickets and they were the ones who set things up for us towards the end from a poor position. The wicket stayed the same throughout, and we wanted to use our batting depth as well. I hope we come out with the same intent and we play a good game tomorrow.
Soumya Sarkar — Man of the Match: I always try in the field, and tried my best with the ball too according to the plan but I would have liked it if I could finish things with the bat. Initially they bowled well, but I needed to take my time, and that turned out to be the right decision.
Sikandar Raza — Zimbabwe captain: We were looking at 170+ and we were short. We did good things, but didn’t execute well, and I’m sure we can have a good game tomorrow. The lower middle order didn’t fire, and not batting the last over was criminal, and I take some responsibility for that. You expect 1-2 overs in a powerplay to go for runs, so we did that okay, and we have to stick to bowling plans a touch longer. Hopefully we can be calmer at the death tomorrow and come out with a win. I wouldn’t have minded it if they batted all 20 overs and lost the game. Tomorrow hopefully the new ball takes some wickets for us.
Teams
ZIMBABWE: Regis Chakabva, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tarisai Musakanda, Dion Myers, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Wellington Masakadza, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
BANGLADESH: Mohammad Naim, Liton Das, Shakib al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah Riyad (capt), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman — cricbuzz.com/supersport
