Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe to set up final against Afghanistan

Bangladesh knocked out Zimbabwe from the ongoing tri-nation T20I series, registering a comfortable 39-run victory against Hamilton Maskadza's side at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today. Bangladesh will be facing Afghanistan in the final of the tournament at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on September 24. 

Bangladesh posted a challenging 175 for seven -- thanks to magnificent 41-ball 62 from Mahmudullah Riyad -- after being asked to bat. Riyad smashed five maximums and a solitary boundary to help the Tigers reach a challenging total. He was well supported by Mushfiqur Rahim (32 off 26) as the duo strung together an important 78-run fourth-wicket partnership.

After the exchange, Bangladesh cornered Zimbabwe -- removing three of their top order batsmen for just eight runs in 3.1 overs. Zimbabwe culd never really recover from the early slump but a 32-ball 54 from Richmond Mutumbami and another 20-ball 27 from Kyle Jarvis helped Zimbabwe get close to the target. However it was not enough as Zimbabwe fell short on the day. For Bangladesh, debutant Aminul Islam was the pick of the bowlers, returning impressive figures of two for 18 in his four overs.      

[Wicket] Over 19.6, Zim 136: A Ndlovu b Mustafizur Rahman 2 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

Mustafizur Rahman rattles the stumps of Ndlovu with a fuller length delivery and wraps it up for the Tigers. Bangladesh win by 39 runs.

[Wicket] Over 19.4, Zim 136/9: KM Jarvis c sub (Sabbir Rahman) b Mustafizur Rahman 27 (20b 1x4 2x6) SR: 135.00 

Mustafizur Rahman gets his 50th T20I wicket as he gets Jarvis caught at long-on. Mustafizur becomes the second Bangladesh player to scalp fifty wickets in T20I after Shakib Al Hasan.

Mutumbami falls after scoring maiden fifty

[Wicket] Over 18.2, Zim 124/8: R Mutumbami c Mohammad Saifuddin b Shafiul Islam 54 (32b 4x4 3x6) SR: 168.75

A slower outside off delivery from Shafiul Islam. Mutumbami tries to go over extra cover but gets decieved by the slower delivery and ends up slicing it up in the air and into the hands of the fielder standing at short third-man. 

Over 17.5, Zim 120/7

A maiden fifty for Mutumbami. He comes down the track and pushes one Mohammad Saifuddin delivery towrads extra cover and takes a single. He gets his fifty in just 30 balls. A brilliant knock.

Mutumbami, Jarvis star in fifty-run stand

Over 17.1, Zim 117/7

A lower full toss from Mohammad Saifuddin and Mutumbami puts it away for a boundary through midwicket. It brings up the fifty-run eighth-wicket stand between Mutumbami and Kyle Jarvis off just 30 balls.   

Madziva falls to a run-out; Zimbabwe seven down

[Wicket] Over 12.2, Zim 66/7: N Madziva run out (Shakib Al Hasan/†Mushfiqur Rahim) 9 (15b 0x4 0x6) SR: 60.00

Madziva drives an Aminul Islam delivery towrds extra cover and tries to sneak a single. But Shakib Al Hasan was quick to react as he fires in the throw to keeper, who makes no mistake to break the stumps. Zimbabwe lose their seventh and is inching closer towards another defeat.

Debutant Aminul on fire as he removes Masakadza

[Wicket] Over 8.4, Zim 44/6: H Masakadza lbw b Aminul Islam 25 (25b 3x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

A fuller length delivery from young Aminul Islam and Hamilton Masakadza goes for a sweep and misses it completely. It hits him on his thighs and would have gone to hit middle and leg. Umpire gives out and Masakadza does not go for a review. A great international debut for the young leg-spinner. He gets two in two overs.

[Wicket] Over 7.2, Zim 37/5: RP Burl b Shafiul Islam 1 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

A length ball outside off from Shafiul Islam and Burl plays away from his body. He gets an inside edge and the ball hits his thigh and then rattles his stumps. Zimbabwe five down and desperately in need of a partnership now.

Debutant Aminul strikes in his first over

[Wicket] Over 6.3, Zim 35/3: CT Mutombodzi c Najmul Hossain Shanto b Aminul Islam 11 (9b 0x4 1x6) SR: 122.22

A fuller ball around off and Mutombodzi tries to go big but ends up giving a catch to Nazmul Hossain standing at long-off. 

Shafiul removes Williams, Zimbabwe in trouble

[Wicket] Over 3.1, Zim 8/3: SC Williams c Afif Hossain b Shafiul Islam 2 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.00

A short of a length delivery from Shafiul Islam that was going away from the left-hander Sean Williams. He smashes it anyway and ends up slicing it to the fielder at midwicket. Zimbabwe in trouble as they lose their third.

[Wicket] Over 1.3, Zim 2/2: RW Chakabva b Shakib Al Hasan 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

A tossed up delivery from Shakib Al Hasan. Chakabva comes down the track and tries to smash it but misses it completely. The ball rattles his stumps as Zimbabwe lose two wickets in quick succession. Brilliant start from the Tigers.

[Wicket] Over 0.5, Zim 0/1: BRM Taylor c Shakib Al Hasan b Mohammad Saifuddin 0 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

A length ball around off from Mohammad Saifuddin and Brendan Taylor tries to go big but toe-ends it. An easy catch by Shakib Al Hasan standing at mid-on. Saifuddin draws first blood. 

Riyad fifty helps Tigers post 175 for seven

A magnificent 41-ball 62 from Mahmudullah Riyad helped Bangladesh post a challenging 175 for seven against Zimbabwe in the fourth match of the ongoing tri-nation T20I series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.  

Over 19.6, Ban 175/7

Mohammad Saifuddin pulls a short delivery from Kyle Jarvis for a boundary. A nice way to end the innings. Bangladesh post 175 for seven. 

[Wicket] Over 19.4, Ban 169/7: Mosaddek Hossain c Chakabva b Jarvis 2 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66

Another low full toss and Mosaddek skies it. Jarvis gets two in two and is on hat-trick.

[Wicket] Over 19.3, Ban 169/6: Mahmudullah c Williams b Jarvis 62 (41b 1x4 5x6) SR: 151.21

A low full toss from Jarvis and Mahmudullah tries to go big. But ends up giving a catch to the fielder at midwicket. Riyad walks away after a brilliant innings.

Afif falls, Tigers lose their fifth

[Wicket] Over 18.4, Ban159/5: Afif Hossain c †Taylor b Mpofu 7 (8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 87.50

Afif Hossain makes room and goes for a shot through the covers but gets an edge and is taken by the wicketkeeper.  

Over 18.2, Ban 158/4

A short delivery from Mpofu and Mahmudullah Riyad pulled it away for a six. Brings up his fifty in style. He moves onto 53 off 37 balls. 

Over 17.5, Ban 150/4

Mahmudullah Riyad walks across the pitch and tries to smash a low full toss from Jarvis through fine leg. But the ball falls just short of Sean Williams and he does very well to stop the ball. A single taken and that brings up the 150 for Bangladesh.

Mushy falls after a brilliant partnership with Riyad

[Wicket] Over 16.3, Ban 143/4: Mushfiqur Rahim c †Taylor b Mutombodzi 32 (26b 3x4 1x6) SR: 123.07

A magnificent 78-run partnership for the fourth-wicket between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad comes to an end as Mushfiqur plays across the line and gets a thin top edge off a Mutombodzi delivery. Brendan Taylor, who could not grab it in the first attempt, gets hold of it in the second attempt.  

Riyad, Mushy star in fifty-run stand

Over 14.5, Ban 132/3: Mushy dropped on 29

Mushfiqur Rahim tries to pull an Mpofu delivery but the ball hits his gloves and goes to the wicketkeeper. Brendan Taylor dives to his left but could not hold on to it. Mushy survives. 

Over 13.5, Ban 120/3

A tossed up delivery from Motumbodzi and Mahmudullah Riyad smashes it over the head of long off for a maximum. That brings up a fifty-run partnership between Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim for the fourth-wicket off just 40 deliveries.

Shakib throws his wicket away

[Wicket] Over 7.2, Ban 65/3: Shakib Al Hasan c Williams b Burl 10 (9b 1x4 0x6) SR: 111.11

An unnecessary shot from skipper Shakib Al Hasan. May be even Shakib was not sure what he was trying to do. He lofts it straight to the hands of the fielder at long off.   

Tigers lose both the openers after a good start

[Wicket] Over 5.5, Ban 55/2: Liton Das c Madziva b Mpofu 38 (22b 4x4 2x6) SR: 172.72 

A magnificent catch by Madziva. Liton Das walks across and tries to go big over fine leg as he flicks one up in the air. Madziva, who was at short fine leg, makes a lot of ground and gets underneath the ball to take an excellent diving catch. 

Over 4.6, Ban 49/1: Lucky Shakib!

Shakib Al Hasan goes for a whack in the very first ball he faced. A pacy delivery from Jarvis outside off and Shakib swings his bat at it. Replay showed that there was an inside edge but Zimbabwe, who had lost their review, did not even appeal for it and Shakib survives. Very lucky indeed.

Nazmul departs after Tigers get off to a decent start

[Wicket] Over 4.5, Ban 49/1: Najmul Hossain Shanto c & b Jarvis 11 (9b 1x4 0x6) SR: 122.22

An off cutter from Jarvis and the debutant, Nazmul Hossain could not pick it up. He goes with the shot early and gets a leading edge as he tries to go for a glance on the leg side. First wicket goes for the Tigers.

End of over 3, Ban 32/0

Sx, four and another Six -- that's how Liton Das started the third over. He made room and smacked one over the mid-off for a six to start with and followed it with a boundary and another six. He moves onto 30 off just 15 balls. Bangladesh off to a good start. 

Overs 0.5, Ban 1/0: Zimbabwe lose their review.

Liton Das goes for a paddle weep off a Ndlovu delivery. The ball hits his pads but seems to be pitching outside off. But Zimbabwe goes for the review after thinking for a while. And it shows that the impact was outside off and Zimbabwe lose their review.    

Aminul, Nazmul to debut as Tigers put to bat first 

Zimbabwe have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh in the fourth match of the ongoing tri-nation T20 series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.

Leg spinner Aminul Islam and opener Nazmul Hossain -- who replaced Soumya Sarkar in the squad -- will be making their T20I debut for the Tigers today. Also, Shafiul Islam is back in the squad. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe have left out Tendai Chatara and Craig Ervine and brought in Chris Mpofu and Richmond Mutumbami.

A win today for the Tigers will ensure them a spot in the final -- scheduled to take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on September 24. Meanwhile, it is must win game for Zimbabwe -- a side who are yet to win a game in the tournament -- if they are to have any chance of making it to the tournament final. The last time the two sides met was in the tournament opener on September 13 in Dhaka. Bangladesh had edged past Zimbabwe in that game by three wickets.

 

Playing XI:

Bangladesh: Liton Das, Aminul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman (c), Shafiul Islam      

Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami, Sean Williams, Ryan Burl, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Regis Chakabva, Neville Madziva, Kyle Jarvis, Ainsley Ndlovu, Chris Mpofu