Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the first Twenty20 International, Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, 2015-16
15-Apr-2017
First Twenty20 international At Khulna, January 15, 2016. Bangladesh won by four wickets. ‡Zimbabwe 163-7 (20 overs) (V. Sibanda 46, H. Masakadza 79); Bangladesh 166-6 (18.4 overs) (Sabbir Rahman 46). MoM: H. Masakadza. T20I debuts: Nurul Hasan, Shuvagata Hom (Bangladesh).
Bangladesh won with eight balls to spare, though their pursuit of 164 hit some snags: Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudullah all fell immediately after smashing sixes. Shakib Al Hasan calmly took Bangladesh to 161 with well-placed fours through third man and deep square leg off Luke Jongwe, whose next delivery went for five leg-side wides. Sabbir was Bangladesh's best batsman on a cool evening, adding 44 in five overs with Mushfiqur Rahim. Earlier, Hamilton Masakadza continued his good form from the series against Afghanistan in Sharjah, with 79 from 53 balls; he and Vusi Sibanda opened with 101, Zimbabwe's second-best T20 stand for any wicket. But a late collapse - five for 13 in the last 15 balls - cost them dearly; after Masakadza's run-out, Mustafizur Rahman and Al-Amin Hossain picked up two each.
Bangladesh won with eight balls to spare, though their pursuit of 164 hit some snags: Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudullah all fell immediately after smashing sixes. Shakib Al Hasan calmly took Bangladesh to 161 with well-placed fours through third man and deep square leg off Luke Jongwe, whose next delivery went for five leg-side wides. Sabbir was Bangladesh's best batsman on a cool evening, adding 44 in five overs with Mushfiqur Rahim. Earlier, Hamilton Masakadza continued his good form from the series against Afghanistan in Sharjah, with 79 from 53 balls; he and Vusi Sibanda opened with 101, Zimbabwe's second-best T20 stand for any wicket. But a late collapse - five for 13 in the last 15 balls - cost them dearly; after Masakadza's run-out, Mustafizur Rahman and Al-Amin Hossain picked up two each.