HARARE: Wellington Masakadza took three wickets and three catches to steer Zimbabwe to a 23-run win over Bangladesh in their second Twenty20 International at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.

It was Zimbabwe’s first success over the tourists after losing the one-off Test, three ODIs and the first of the three match T20 series on Thursday and sets up a decider on Sunday.

Zimbabwe, who won the toss and chose to bat, scored 166-6 with Wessley Madhevere contributing 73, to which Bangladesh replied with 143 in 19.5 overs.

Madhevere provided the foundation with his knock, with powerful hitter Ryan Burl adding 34 not out while Shoriful Islam took 3-33.

Bangladesh, dominant with the bat across all formats of the tour, this time failed to get the better of the home bowlers as first Blessing Muzarabani (2-21) and then Masakadza (3-20) got among the wickets.

In the opening fixture, Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar both hit half centuries as Bangladesh won by eight wickets. The pair featured in a 102-run opening wicket partnership to set Bangladesh on their way to a comfortable victory as they chased down a target of 153 with seven balls to spare.

Naim finished on 63 not out while Sarkar got to 50 before being run out.

Brief scores of first match:

ZIMBABWE 152 in 19 overs (R.W. Chakabva 43, D.N. Myers 35, W. Madhevere 23; Mustafizur Rahman 3-31, Shoriful Islam 2-17, Mohammad Saifuddin 2-23); BANGLADESH 153-2 in 18.5 overs (Mohammad Naim 63 not out, Soumya Sarkar 50).

Scoreboard

ZIMBABWE: T. Marumani b Mahedi 3
W.N. Madhevere c Afif b Shoriful 73
R.W. Chakabva c Shoriful b Shakib 14
D.N. Myers c Mahedi b Shoriful 26
Sikandar Raza run out 4
R.P. Burl not out 34
L.M. Jongwe c Shakib b Shoriful 2
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-7) 10
TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs) 166 FALL OF WKTS: 1-15, 2-42, 3-99, 4-122, 5-139, 6-166. DID NOT BAT: M. Shumba, W.P. Masakadza, T.L. Chatara, B. Muzarabani. BOWLING: Taskin Ahmed 4-0-28-0 (1w); Mahedi Hasan 1-0-11-1; Shoriful Islam 4-0-33-3 (2w); Mohammad Saifuddin 4-0-36-0 (2w); Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-32-1; Soumya Sarkar 2-0-16-0 (2w); Shamim Hossain 1-0-7-0.

BANGLADESH: Mohammad Naim b Muzarabani 5
Soumya Sarkar c Sikandar b Muzarabani 8
Mahedi Hasan c Burl b Masakadza 15
Shakib Al Hasan c Sikandar b Masakadza 12
Mahmudullah c sub b Masakadza 4
Afif Hossain c Shumba b Chatara 24
Nurul Hasan c Masakadza b Chatara 9
Shamim Hossain c Masakadza b Jongwe 29
Mohammad Saifuddin c Sikandar b Jongwe 19
Taskin Ahmed c Masakadza b Jongwe 5
EXTRAS (B-2, LB-7, W-4) 13
TOTAL (all out, 19.5 overs) 143 FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-17, 3-45, 4-52, 5-53, 6-68, 7-109, 8-127, 9-141. BOWLING: Sikandar Raza 3-0-22-0 (1w); Chatara 4-0-24-2 (1w); Muzarabani 4-0-21-2; Jongwe 3.5-0-31-3 (2w); Masakadza 4-0-20-3; Madhevere 1-0-16-0. RESULT: Zimbabwe won by 23 runs to level three-match series 1-1. UMPIRES: F. Mutizwa (Zimbabwe) and I. Chabi (Zimbabwe). TV UMPIRE: L. Rusere (Zimbabwe). MATCH REFEREE: A.J. Pycroft (Zimbabwe). PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Wessley Madhevere.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2021