derick.khumalo
Bongani Ndlovu at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
ZIMBABWE’S fielding fell apart as they grassed six catches to allow Bangladesh to post a challenging 186/5 in the second T20 International at Queens Sports Club on Friday.
The Chevrons were left to rue a horror display in the field, with opener Saif Hassan enjoying an extraordinary five lives before finally being dismissed for 55.
Milton Shumba endured a difficult afternoon, dropping Saif three times before Brad Evans and Dion Myers each put down chances offered by the Bangladesh opener. Shumba’s nightmare outing was compounded by another dropped catch later in the innings, taking his tally to four spills.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers were forced to do the hard work themselves as the fielders repeatedly let them down.
Richard Ngarava eventually broke through, bowling Tanzid Hasan for 58 after the opener dragged the ball onto his stumps. He struck again soon after when Clive Madande completed a fine catch to dismiss Bangladesh stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy for six.
Brad Evans then removed Parvez Hossain Emon for one, with skipper Sikandar Raza taking a comfortable catch at long-on, before Nurul Hasan gloved a short ball through to wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani for four.
Raza finally ended Saif’s charmed innings, dismissing the opener for 55 after he had survived five dropped catches.
Bangladesh, however, capitalised on Zimbabwe’s generosity. The visitors finished strongly, with Evans conceding 28 runs in the final over as they surged to 186/5, setting the Chevrons a demanding target of 187 to level the three-match series.
The dropped chances proved decisive. Saif’s multiple reprieves, together with another missed opportunity off Tanzid Hasan, shifted the momentum firmly in Bangladesh’s favour and left Zimbabwe facing an uphill task with the bat.
