Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Cricket team crushed Zimbabwe Cricket team by six wickets in their second Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday.
Chasing Zimbabwe’s fighting total of 138 for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs, the Tigers coasted home making 142 for the loss of four wickets when they had nine balls to spare.
Bangladesh made an auspicious start with two openers Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan put on together 41 runs in the opening stand before Tanzid Hasan (18) was caught by Brian Bennett off Ainsley Ndlovu when Bangladesh’s score was 41.
Litton Das made 23 from 25 balls featuring two fours and a sixer.
Najmul Hossain Shanto (16) was caught at the long-on by substitute Ryan Burl off Luke Jongwe when Bangladesh’s total was 61 for the loss off two wickets.
Litton Das was caught at the backward point by Johnathan Campbell off Luke Jongwe when the hosts’ total was 62 for the loss of three wickets. Litton Das made 23 from 25 balls featuring two fours and a sixer.
Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali built a notable partnership scoring together 31 runs in the four-wicket stand before Jaker Ali (13) was bowled out by Richard Ngarava when the Tigers’ score was 93 for the loss of four wickets.
Then, Hridoy and Mahmudullah Riyad helped their side to reach the victory target contributing together 49 runs in the unbroken five-wicket stand before they overhaul the tourists’ total.
Hridoy remained unbeaten with 37 runs. He hit three fours and two sixes in his 25-ball innings. Hridoy was adjudged the Man of the Match. Riyad remained unbeaten with 26 runs. His 16-ball innings saw two fours and a sixer.
Zimbabwe faced a disaster as they lost five wickets for 42 runs. Fourth-down Brian Bennett and fifth-down Johnathan Campbell repaired the damage adding together 69 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Campbell was caught at the mid wicket by Mohammad Saifuddin off Shoriful Islam when Zimbabwe’s score was 115 for the loss of six wickets.
After Campbell’s dismissal, Zimbabwe batters failed to make any notable partnership against the tight, controlled and superb bowling attack of Bangladesh bowlers.
Campbell hit a polished 45. His 24-ball innings had three sixes and four fours.
Brian Bennett remained unbeaten with 44. He hit three sixes and two fours in his 29-ball knock.
Besides, opener Joylord Gumbie and one-down Craig Ervine could reach double digit figures scoring 17 and 13 runs respectively.
Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain bagged two wickets each instead of 18 and 33 runs respectively.
Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam and Mohammad Saifuddin picked up one wicket each for 18, 26 and 37 runs respectively.