Malcolm Waller and Vusi Sibanda set up a big total as Zimbabwe crushed Bangladesh by 31 runs in the third Twenty20 international in Khulna yesterday to stay alive in the four-match series.
Opener Sibanda struck 44 off 33 balls and Waller hammered 49 off 23 as Zimbabwe posted 187-6 before restricting Bangladesh to 156-6 in a packed Sheikh Abu Nasir Stadium.
Sabbir Rahman made 50 off 32 balls for the home side, who won the first two matches by four wickets and 42 runs respectively, but found Zimbabwe’s total too much of an ask.
Sabbir put on 67 runs with Soumya Sarkar (25) for the second wicket to give Bangladesh a positive start before Zimbabwe took control of the game through their spinners.
Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer claimed 3-18 while Sikandar Raza chipped in with 2-7.
After losing the first two matches, Zimbabwe’s Sibanda came out firing with stand-in skipper Hamilton Masakadza, putting on 45 in the opening stand in just four overs.
Mohamed Shahid, playing his debut T20 for Bangladesh, broke the stand, with Mosaddek Hossain taking a catch at point to dismiss Masakadza for 20.
Shakib al-Hasan, who claimed 3-32, removed Richard Mutumbami (20) and Sibanda in successive overs to bring some respite for the home side.
But Waller, who hit two fours and four sixes, and Sean Williams (32) added 74 for the fourth wicket to ensure Zimbabwe did not stall. “Good to be back in the series,” Masakadza said after the match. “Early on, we spoke of the middle order coming together.”
“They did it today; it was a complete performance.”
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said brief rain that delayed the toss for 15 minutes helped Zimbabwe’s batsmen because bowlers found it difficult to grip the ball.
When the home team batted, the ball started to turn off the pitch for the spinners. Apart from Shahid, a string of other Bangladesh players made their T20 debut including Mosaddek, all-rounder Muktar Ali and paceman Abu Hider. Batsman Imrul Kayes has also been brought into the squad, while several others were rested and batsman Mushfiqur Rahim and paceman Mustafizur Rahman are nursing injuries.
The fourth and final match of the series will be on January 22 at the same ground.