Raza, Madhevere, bowlers give Zimbabwe 1-0 lead
Litton, Nurul impress for Bangladesh, but the steep target proves too much in the end
Wessly Madhevere and Sikandar Raza scored fifties • Jekesai Njikizana/AFP via Getty Images
As often happens in T20s, the match came down to a critical penultimate over. Ngarava, drafted into this squad to make up for an injury-hit pace bowling attack, more than made up for the absentees Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani. He conceded just four runs in the 19th over, kept the rampant Nurul quiet and picked up a wicket for good measure to leave Bangladesh needing 28 runs in the last over.
After Zimbabwe opted to bat, they cruised to 80 for 2 in 11 overs before Sean Williams laid into Nasum Ahmed. He struck the left-arm spinner for two fours and a six in the 18-run 12th over to give some impetus to the innings. He went after Nasum's down the leg-side deliveries and dispatched them over deep square leg, steered one fine with a paddle sweep, and pulled one to the long-leg boundary.
Zimbabwe scored 91 runs in the last six overs of their innings, thanks mainly to Raza who was in a punishing mood for his unbeaten 65 off 26. The first of Raza's four sixes was a pull off Taskin Ahmed in the 15th over, before he struck Shoriful Islam for two more in the 19th over and one off Mustafizur in the last over.
After giving Bangladesh their best powerplay score - 60 for 1 - in nearly four years, Litton attempted a scoop against Wiliams in the seventh over. Ngarava, at short fine leg, dropped a sitter in haste to celebrate the big wicket but made up for it by quickly throwing the ball to the bowler, who ran back to break the stumps at the non-striker's end, where Litton was well short. Litton did not even try to make it to the crease as he took a bit of time to realise the catch had been shelled. The on-field umpire, who seemed confused with the proceedings, asked Litton to wait and signalled for the TV umpire, signalling not out as the soft signal. This added to the confusion, but the TV umpire adjudged that Litton was actually run out.
Bangladesh never quite got a big partnership going after Litton fell for 32. Anamul Haque got out the ball after hitting his second six in the tenth over, while Afif Hossain pulled a half-tracker down deep midwicket's throat in the 13th. Najmul Hossain Shanto, a surprise inclusion in the T20I squad, struck a six and three fours in his 25-ball 37 but he was unable to cope with the rising asking rate and was caught behind in the 16th over. It was left to the new captain Nurul, who, eventually, couldn't quite get Bangladesh to the target.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84