AFP/ Dhaka

Neville Madziva hit 18 runs in the last over as Zimbabwe pulled off a nail-biting three-wicket victory against Bangladesh in the second Twenty20 international to level a two-match series 1-1 in Dhaka on Sunday.

Madziva first starred with his pace bowling and then made the most of a reprieve to score an unbeaten 28 runs to steer Zimbabwe to 136-7 in 19.5 overs, after the visitors restricted Bangladesh to 135-9 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Bangladesh, which won the preceding one-day series 3-0, almost sealed off another clean-sweep when Nasir Hossain dismissed Malcolm Waller in the first ball of the last over, but Madziva hit the off-spinner 6, 2, 4, 6 off the next four balls to stun the home crowd.

Madziva was caught behind for 10 in the previous over off Mustafizur Rahman, but the right-hander was called back after TV replay showed Rahman had overstepped.

Waller made 40 off 27 balls with two fours and three sixes and shared 55 runs in the sixth wicket stand with Luke Jongwe (34) as Zimbabwe recovered from a wobbly 5-39 to win the game.

The victory ended Zimbabwe's 13-match losing streak against Bangladesh in all formats of the game.

Anamul Haque earlier made 47 off 51 balls to hold the Bangladesh innings together amid a free-fall of wickets at the other end.

Pacer Tinashe Panyangara claimed 3-30 for Zimbabwe while leg-spinner Graeme Cremer and Madziva claimed two wickets each giving away 21 and 25 runs respectively.

The hosts started confidently as Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes put on 34 runs in the opening stand after skipper Mashrafe Mortaza elected to bat first.

Tamim miscued a pull shot off Madziva to give a catch to Sean Williams at long on for 21 and Kayes fell in the next over to Tendai Chisoro for 10.

Zimbabwe then made regular breakthroughs to keep the home side in check.

Anamul was run out in the final over as Bangladesh settled for their lowest total against Zimbabwe in five Twenty20 internationals.