Bangladesh beat Zim in final T20I and complete clean series sweep

Bangladesh registered a whopping nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe and completed a clean series sweep -- winning all the matches in every format of the series -- at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. This is the first time that Bangladesh have defeated an opponent in all the matches across all the formats in a series. 

Bangladesh won the lone Test by an innings and 106 runs last month in Mirpur before winning all the three ODIs held in Sylhet. And with today's win, the Tigers ensured a clean sweep, as they won the two-match T20I series 2-0. 

Courtesy of a magnificent 77-run opening stand between Liton Das and Mohammad Naim, the Tigers got over the line with 25 balls to spare. Liton, who has been in excellent form throughout the series, picked up his fourth T20I fifty off just 35 balls. The right-hander remained unbeaten on a 45-ball 60 while Mohammad Naim, who replaced Tamim Iqbal today, scored a 34-ball 33 before being dismissed in the 11th over.  The Tigers, who were not tested by the Zimbabwe bowlers, registered the victory in just 15.5 overs. 

Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers did an excellent job as they restricted Zimbabwe to a paltry 119 for seven. Despite an unbeaten 48-ball 59 from Brendan Taylor, Zimbabwe could not post a commendable total as only three other Zimbabwean batsmen were able to get to the double-figure score. Bangladesh bowlers kept Zimbabwe at bay from the beginning with Al-Amin striking early in the innings. Zimbabwe however, recovered through a 57-run second-wicket stand between Brenadan Taylor and Craig Ervine but the visitors kept on losing wickets at regular intervals while in search of quick runs soon after Ervine fell in the 12th over for a 33-ball 29. For Bangladesh, Al-Amin hossain remained most impressive, returning figures of two for 22 in his four overs.   

The next assignment for Bangladesh is the third phase of the Pakistan tour next month where the Tigers will play a lone ODI and their second World Test Championship Fixture. It now remains to be seen if the Tigers can carry their form to Pakistan.

Liton smashes fifty after Naim's dismissal

Over 11.4, Ban 88/1

Liton Das, who has been in sublime form, brings up his fifty off just 35 balls as the right-hander works a Sikandar Raza delivery towards wide of short-fine leg to take a single. That is also back-to-back fifties for Liton.  

Naim falls after 77-run opening stand with Liton

[Wicket] Over 10.4, Ban 77/1: Mohammad Naim c Kamunhukamwe b Mpofu 33 (34b 5x4 0x6) SR: 97.05

A short of a length delivery from Christopher Mpofu and Mohammad Naim pulls it staright to the fielder at deep midwicket. With that a magnificent 77-run opening stand between Naim and Liton Das comes to an end. Finally something to cheer for the Zimbabweans. 

Liton, Naim give Tigers a decent start while in chase of a small total

End of over 6, Ban 44/0

The Zimbabwe bowlers were unable to test the opening pair of Liton Das and Mohammad Naim as Bangladesh cruise towards the paltry 120-run target with ease. The Tigers amassed 44 runs without any loss after the end of first powerplay. Both Liton and Naim looked solid down in the middle, putting away bad deliveries with ease. Liton Das, who has been in sublime form, smashed two boundaries as he remians unbeaten on 23 off 16 balls while his partner Naim, who played some excellent cuts, is unbeaten on a run-a-ball 20 after the end of six overs. 

Bangladesh restrict Zimbabwe to 119 for seven

Bangladesh bowlers did an excellent job as they restricted Zimbabwe to a paltry 119 for seven in the second and final T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

Despite an unbeaten 48-ball 59 from Brendan Taylor, Zimbabwe could not post a commendable total as only three other Zimbabwean batsmen were able to get to the double-figure score. Bangladesh bowlers kept Zimbabwe at bay from the beginning with Al-Amin striking early in the innings. Zimbabwe however, recovered through a 57-run second-wicket stand between Brenadan Taylor and Craig Ervine but the visitors kept on losing wickets at regular intervals while in search of quick runs soon after Ervine fell in the 12th over for a 33-ball 29. For Bangladesh, Al-Amin hossain remained most impressive, returning figures of two for 22 in his four overs.

Fizz gets two in one over

[Wicket] Over 18.6, Zim 113/7: W Madhevere c Mohammad Naim b Mustafizur Rahman 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Another cutter from Mustafizur Rahman and Madhevere could not get enough on it to get it over long on. Fizz gets two in one over. 

Fizz scalps Mutombodzi's wicket

[Wicket] Over 18.3, Zim 108/6: CT Mutombodzi c Mohammad Naim b Mustafizur Rahman 3 (7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 42.85

A short delivery from Mustafizur Rahman and Mutombodzi goes for a pull. However, the right-hander gets a top edge and Mohammad Naim at deep midwicket takes the catch. 

Al-Amin removes Mutumbami; Zim five down

[Wicket] Over 16.1, Zim 97/5: R Mutumbami c Soumya Sarkar b Al-Amin Hossain 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

A length delivery from Al-Amin Hossain and Mutumbami tries to go for a biggie on the leg side. However, the timing was miserable and Soumya Sarkar takes an easy catch. 

Saifuddin removes Raza

[Wicket] Over 15.5, Zim 96/4: Sikandar Raza c Al-Amin Hossain b Mohammad Saifuddin 12 (10b 2x4 0x6) SR: 120.00

Sikandar Raza goes for a scoop off a Mohammad Saifuddin slower that could well have been a wide if left. However, the ball only goes as far as the fielder at short fine leg, who takes a simple catch. Zimbabwe four down.  

Mahedi scalps his maiden T20I wicket

[Wicket] Over 13.2, Zim 76/3: SC Williams st †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mahedi Hasan 3 (8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 37.50

Sean Williams goes down the track but could not get to the pitch of the ball. He was undone by some extra bounce as the ball goes past him and the wicketkeeper removes the bails before he could return to the crease. Mahedi, playing in his fourth T20I, gets his first international wicket in the format.

Ervine falls after fifty-run stand with Taylor

[Wicket] Over 11.1, Zim 69/2: CR Ervine c Soumya Sarkar b Afif Hossain 29 (33b 3x4 0x6) SR: 87.87

Craig Ervine tries to smash an outside off delivery from Afif Hossain over the long-off but the left-hander only ends up giving an easy catch to Soumya Sarkar. Afif with a crucial breakthrough for the Tigers

Ervine, Taylor star in fifty-run stand

Over 9.6, Zim 62/1

Craig Ervine plays a Mahedi Hasan delivery toawrds the leg-side and takes a single. That brings up the fifty partnership between Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine. Both Ervine and Taylor were tested by pacer Hasan Mahmud at times but the duo managed to rotate strike and were able to find boundaries as Zimbabwe made a come back after the early loss of opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe in the third over.   

Al-Amin strikes early

[Wicket] Over 2.3, Zim 12/1: TS Kamunhukamwe c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Al-Amin Hossain 10 (10b 2x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

Kamunhukamwe walks down the off-side and tries to scoop it over the keeper. However, the right-hander gets a faint edge and the ball goes directly to Mushfiqur Rahim's gloves. Al-Amin strikes early for the Tigers.