Shakib's lucky catch, Taylor's scooped six
Plays of the day for the first T20 between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in Bulawayo
Mohammad Isam
11-May-2013
Brendan Taylor played some innovative shots • AFP
The punt
In the tense final overs of the chase, Brendan Taylor looked to be short of bowling options towards the end but he decided to go with Brian Vitori in the penultimate over with Bangladesh needing 20. Barring a cover-driven six, the visitors only got four singles and required ten off the last over. Taylor then had to choose between Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara, who had a good previous over. It paid off, as Panyangara gave away just three runs, and picked up his third wicket too to seal the match.
In the tense final overs of the chase, Brendan Taylor looked to be short of bowling options towards the end but he decided to go with Brian Vitori in the penultimate over with Bangladesh needing 20. Barring a cover-driven six, the visitors only got four singles and required ten off the last over. Taylor then had to choose between Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara, who had a good previous over. It paid off, as Panyangara gave away just three runs, and picked up his third wicket too to seal the match.
The second chance
Shakib Al Hasan almost dropped Sikandar Raza at wide long-on, only to catch it on the second attempt, one-handed. After completing the catch, Shakib stuck out his tongue to show how that drop could have cost Bangladesh, as Raza has a reputation locally of being a fine Twenty20 player.
Shakib Al Hasan almost dropped Sikandar Raza at wide long-on, only to catch it on the second attempt, one-handed. After completing the catch, Shakib stuck out his tongue to show how that drop could have cost Bangladesh, as Raza has a reputation locally of being a fine Twenty20 player.
The shot
Brendan Taylor brought out one of his unique brand of shots, a sweep shot where the bat is curved and yet used as a ramp. He employed it against the left-arm seamer Sajidul Islam and sent it over fine leg for six. What was most interesting was that Taylor connected the ball behind him. Earlier he had struck a four off Abdur Razzak with the same shot.
Brendan Taylor brought out one of his unique brand of shots, a sweep shot where the bat is curved and yet used as a ramp. He employed it against the left-arm seamer Sajidul Islam and sent it over fine leg for six. What was most interesting was that Taylor connected the ball behind him. Earlier he had struck a four off Abdur Razzak with the same shot.
The shackle-breaker
Shamsur Rahman had played out 23 deliveries to score 14, and it looked like he was struggling to get the ball away from the 30-yard circle. Prosper Utseya let him go, bowling a full-toss which he dispatched over midwicket. It was the trigger he needed, smacking three more boundaries in the next seven balls he faced.
Shamsur Rahman had played out 23 deliveries to score 14, and it looked like he was struggling to get the ball away from the 30-yard circle. Prosper Utseya let him go, bowling a full-toss which he dispatched over midwicket. It was the trigger he needed, smacking three more boundaries in the next seven balls he faced.
The effort
Tinotenda Mutombodzi had hurt his hand when he ran out Nasir Hossain at the bowler's end in the 16th over. He needed some attention from the physio, who wrapped up his injured hand. He continued bowling a good over, and off the last ball, he ran across to his left, picked up the ball and threw it to the keeper Taylor who broke the stumps, which resulted in Mahmudullah's run-out.
Tinotenda Mutombodzi had hurt his hand when he ran out Nasir Hossain at the bowler's end in the 16th over. He needed some attention from the physio, who wrapped up his injured hand. He continued bowling a good over, and off the last ball, he ran across to his left, picked up the ball and threw it to the keeper Taylor who broke the stumps, which resulted in Mahmudullah's run-out.
The soft dismissal
Vusimuzi Sibanda's first forceful shot after his century in the third one-dayer was a pull, but it ended up on square-leg's hands. It was a soft dismissal, especially coming in the first over of a Twenty20 game.
Vusimuzi Sibanda's first forceful shot after his century in the third one-dayer was a pull, but it ended up on square-leg's hands. It was a soft dismissal, especially coming in the first over of a Twenty20 game.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. He tweets here