Batsmen blaze thru’ Zimbabwe
Bangladesh's top order came alive once more, this time in the opening T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday as the Tigers posted a commanding 200 for three -- their third-highest T20 score -- before bowling out Zimbabwe for 152 to win the first T20I by 48 runs.
Soumya Sarkar got back in the groove, blazing an unbeaten 62 while the opening pair of Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal continued their form from the ODIs. The batting effort was backed up by the bowlers, with Aminul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman finishing up with three wickets each.
Chasing a big total, Zimbabwe fell in early trouble, losing the experienced Brendan Taylor in the second over as the batsman tried to flick a Shafiul Islam delivery only to find the man at midwicket. Mustafizur Rahman trapped Craig Ervine leg-before and Wesley Madehevere was run out soon after as Zimbabwe stuttered. Opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe had played a few good strokes during his 20-ball 28 and starred in a 42-run stand with skipper Sean Williams for the fourth wicket but any hopes of the partnership going onto challenge the target was decimated when both fell to leggie Aminul in consecutive deliveries. Afif Hossain, Aminul and Mustafizur all got into the act with one wicket each after Aminul's double strike as Zimbabwe slumped to 107 for eight.
A late onslaught came, first from Donald Tiripano and then Carl Mumba, with the former threatening to cut loose like he did in the second ODI at Sylhet by reaching 20 off 12 with three sixes before being bamboozled by Mohammad Saifuddin and dragging a delivery onto his stumps. Mumba smote Fizz for a four and six in the 19th over before becoming the left-arm seamer's third victim as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 152.
Earlier, Soumya launched himself into a magnificent pull shot over deep mid-wicket in the final delivery of the innings to take Bangladesh to 200 for 3 against Zimbabwe, to signal a return of the stability in the batting order following a few series spent in confusion. Soumya blazed a team-high 62 off 32, laced by four fours and five sixes after coming in at number three following Tamim Iqbal's departure.
The openers had given the Tigers the perfect launchpad to a big total with a 92-run stand -- the highest opening partnership for the Tigers in T20Is -- with both Tamim and Liton Das going after the bowling early. Liton continued his decimation of the Zimbabwe bowlers following his 176 in the third ODI at Sylhet, blazing a 39-ball 59 with five fours and three sixes yesterday. He started on his merry way, hitting a six and four in the very first over and then flayed the bowling all over the park. Just when the innings was gathering more momentum, both Tamim and Liton departed in quick succession and it appeared that Bangladesh would struggle to continue in the same vein of aggression.
Soumya, however bided his time at the crease, hitting the odd boundary or two after coming on in the 11th over. Following Mushfiqur Rahim's departure for 17 off 8, Soumya came into his own in the death overs, which realized 75 runs from five overs. He blazed three sixes in the final over and three fours and four fours in the last four overs of the innings to ensure that the Tigers reach a big total.
Comments