Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo
BRIAN Bennett top scored with 44 runs while Ryan Burl and Brad Evans provided a late flourish as Zimbabwe posted a competitive 170/6 against Bangladesh in the first of three T20 International matches at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, the Chevrons got off to a fast start through Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani, who attacked the Bangladesh bowling during the powerplay.
Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed opened the bowling from the city end, but Bennett immediately showed his attacking intent, cutting through the covers for four before following it up with a scoop over the wicketkeeper for another boundary.
Zimbabwe raced to 36 without loss midway through the powerplay as Bennett and Marumani took the attack to Bangladesh’s bowlers.
Marumani joined the assault in the third over when he struck Mahedi Hasan for two sixes, forcing the visitors to search for answers early in the innings.
Mahedi struggled to contain the Zimbabwe openers, conceding 15 runs in his first over, but Bangladesh eventually found the breakthrough in the fourth over.
Marumani, attempting to continue the aggressive approach, fell for 14 runs from nine balls after he was caught by Saif Hassan off the bowling of Nahid Rana, leaving Zimbabwe on 37/1 after 3.3 overs.
Dion Myers joined Bennett at the crease and the pair rebuilt the innings, taking Zimbabwe past 50 runs in just 5.1 overs.
However, Bangladesh fought back through Mohammad Saifuddin, who removed Myers for 20 runs from 20 balls after the batter was caught by substitute fielder Rishad Hossain.
The wicket left Zimbabwe on 75/2 after 8.5 overs.
Bennett continued to anchor the innings, combining aggression with composure as he brought up a valuable 44 from 30 deliveries, including six fours and a six.
His innings came to an end in the 11th over when he was caught by Tanzid Hasan off Nahid Rana, leaving Zimbabwe on 90/3.
Captain Sikandar Raza arrived with the responsibility of accelerating the scoring rate and briefly lifted the tempo, striking two fours and a six in his 20 off 13 balls.
But Saifuddin struck again in the 14th over, using a slower delivery to dismiss Raza after the Zimbabwe captain mistimed a lofted shot and was caught by Bangladesh skipper Towhid Hridoy at long-off.
Zimbabwe were reduced to 116/4 after 13.4 overs.
With Bangladesh applying pressure, Ryan Burl and Milton Shumba attempted to rebuild the innings before Nahid Rana claimed his third wicket when Shumba was caught by Taskin Ahmed after scoring 11 runs.
Rana completed an impressive spell when he removed Tashinga Musekiwa for a first-ball duck, caught by Saif Hassan, as Zimbabwe slipped to 139/6.
Burl remained unbeaten on 30 from 25 balls, while Evans provided a late boost with an unbeaten 19 from 10 deliveries, smashing four boundaries to help Zimbabwe reach 170/6 from their 20 overs.
For Bangladesh, Nahid Rana was the standout bowler, finishing with 4/26 from his four overs, while Saifuddin claimed 2/35.
Taskin Ahmed was the most economical of the Bangladesh bowlers, conceding just 22 runs from his four overs, although he went wicketless.
The visitors’ spinners struggled against Zimbabwe’s attacking approach, with Mahedi Hasan conceding 41 runs from four overs and Nasum Ahmed going for 32 runs from three overs.
Bangladesh now require 171 runs at an asking rate of 8.55 runs per over to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 International series.
Zimbabwe will rely on their pace attack of Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans to defend the total under lights at Queens Sports Club.
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (captain), Ryan Burl, Milton Shumba, Clive Madande (wicketkeeper), Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.
Bangladesh: Towhid Hridoy (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Nurul Hasan (wicketkeeper), Yasir Ali, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nahid Rana, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed.
Colletta Dube