Mosaddek Hossain Saikat became the fourth Bangladeshi bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the T20 International Cricket when he ended with 5-20 against Zimbabwe in the second match at Harare Sports Club today.
With his wily off-spin, Mosaddek ran through the Zimbabwe top order who was instrumental in the side’s 17-run victory in the first T20 of the three-match series, making the second game for Bangladesh a ‘do or die match.
Left-arm spinner Elias Sunny, Shakib Al Hasan, and pacer Mustafizur Rahman were the other Bangladeshi bowlers who had taken five wickets in T20 format earlier. Sunny’s 5-13 against Ireland at Belfast in 2021 still remains the best bowling by a Bangladeshi bowler in this format.
Mosaddek, however, sits with Shakib in joint second position as both of them snapped up five wickets, conceding identical 20 runs. Shakib’s feat came against West Indies in Mirpur in 2018. Mustafizur’s 5-22 came against New Zealand in Kolkata during the 2016 T20 World Cup.
Mosaddek indeed hinted at something extraordinary in the first over when he dismissed Regis Chakabva in the first ball for a golden duck and got rid of Wessly Madhevere (4) in the last ball. Madhevere with 67 was Zimbabwe’s highest run-getter in the first match.
Later, he scythed down the top and middle order, taking out the likes of skipper Craig Ervine (1), Sean Williams (8), and Milton Shumba (3) in four over in a row.
