At the Harare Sports Club today, Bangladesh romped to a seven-wicket victory against Zimbabwe in the second T20 to tie the three-match series at 1-1 with a career-best 5-20 from Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and a slick 56 from Liton Das.
Elias Sunny, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shakib Al Hasan all bowled four straight overs to take those five wickets, making Mosaddek the only bowler from Bangladesh to achieve a five-wicket haul. This performance was crucial in keeping the hosts to 135-8 in a batting haven. The objective was eventually achieved by Bangladesh with 15 balls remaining thanks to Liton’s sixth half-century.
Six fours and two sixes were scattered across his 33-ball innings. In an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership, Afif Hossain and Najmul Hossain Shanto combined 55 runs and were not out after scoring 30 and 19 runs, respectively.
However, Liton provided Bangladesh the quick start they needed as they looked to avenge their 17-run loss in game one and salvage the series. Munim Shahriar was dismissed for seven, however, and Bangladesh suffered a setback.
Liton kept the side moving while being assisted by Anamul, and he utilized some of his characteristic strokes to astound the hosts’ bowlers. But Sean Williams’ leg-before trapping of him resulted in his dismissal against the play.
Sikandar Raza defeated Anamul shortly after with a score of 16, although Afif and Shanto assisted in the team’s rout.
Zimbabwe posted 205-3 just 24 hours ago at this location, going on to easily win the opening game.
After the devastation of Mosaddek, Sikandar Raza, who had helped Zimbabwe surpass 200 runs in the earlier game with a blistering 26 ball-65 not out, stood tall once more.
He scored 62 runs off of 53 deliveries, including four fours and two sixes, and he was the main reason Zimbabwe passed the 100-run threshold.
The only other Zimbabwean batsman to reach double digits was Ryan Burl, who scored 32.
After Zimbabwe was reduced to 31-5 in the seventh over thanks to a cunning off-spin from Mosaddek, Raza and Burl put up an 80-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Hasan Mahmud and Mustafizur Rahman, both fast bowlers, both claimed one wicket.
After winning the toss, Zimbabwean captain Craig Ervine logically chose to bat first and predicted that the match would proceed similarly to the first T20. However, Mosaddek interfered as he developed unique bowling variations to astound the hosts.
He struck twice in the first over, dismissing Regis Chakabva for first ball- duck and took out Wessly Madhevere (4) in the last ball. Madhevere with 67 was the highest scorer for Zimbabwe in the last game.
There was no respite for Zimbabwe as Mosaddek forced the local side’s top order fall like a pack of cards. His victim included captain Ervine (1), Sean Williams (8) and Milton Shumba (3).
Zimbabwe experienced some respite when Burl and Raza helped the team reach 100 before Hasan Mahmud, one of Bangladesh’s two replacements for this match, came up with another strike to get rid of Burl, who had three boundaries on 31 balls and 32 deliveries.
When Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Raza in the penultimate over in an effort to advance the innings, Raza had just completed a superb innings. Then, Wellington Masakadza and Luke Jongwe helped the team beyond 130.
