Photo: Collected
Fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mohammad Saifuddin claimed three wickets apiece as Bangladesh wrapped Zimbabwe up for paltry 124 in the five-match T20 International series opening game at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Friday (3 May).
Clive Mandane made team-best 43 off 39 with six fours and Wellington Masakadza struck 34 to help Zimbabwe propel past 100 after the visitors slumped to 41-7.
Put into bat first, Zimbabwe made an encouraging start when debutant Joylord Gumbie hit Shoriful Islam a boundary in the first ball. But morning doesn't show the day always.
Zimbabwe was brought down to earth immediately when off-spinner Mahedi Hasan bowled opener Craig Ervine for duck in the second over. Gumbie and Brian Bennet found boundaries at regular intervals to keep the side flowing but the rot began when Saifuddin who returned figures of 3-15, had Gumbie caught by Taskin.
On his debut, Gumbie made 17. Bennet was then trapped run out for 16 before Mahedi dismissed Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza for naught in the same over to finish with 2-16.
Taskin joined the party striking twice in his consecutive deliveries to get the better of Sean Williams and Ryan Burl, both out for duck.
Saifuddin took the wicket of Luke Jongwe for 2 as Bangladesh sniffed a chance to bowl Zimbabwe out before they made it three-figure.
Mandane and Masakadza resisted and added 75 runs for the eighth wicket to take the side past 100.
However, Taskin broke the partnership, rattling the stump of Mandane and Saifuddin them cleaned up the tail.
Masakadza was run out in the last delivery after hitting two fours and two sixes.
Messenger/Sumon
