ZIM vs BAN: Bangladesh remain alive in T20I series with 34-run win in Bulawayo

Bangladesh levelled the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, winning the second T20I by 34 runs on Friday, July 17, at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. After being put in to bat first, Bangladesh posted a good score of 186/5 in their allotted 20 overs, riding on half-centuries from Saif Hasan (55 off 45) and Tanzid Hasan Tamim.

For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans (2/65) and Richard Ngarava scalped two wickets each. In reply, Zimbabwe’s chase never got going as they got bundled out for 152 in 19.4 overs. Rishad Hossain was the pick of the bowlers with a four-wicket haul, while Mahedi Hasan (3/24) scalped three wickets.

As a result, Bangladesh finally made a comeback, having earlier lost the one-off Test and the ODI series. The two teams will next lock horns in the series-decider third T20I at the same venue on Sunday, July 19.

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Mohammad Saifuddin was adjudged Player of the Match for his all-round contribution. He first played a belligerent knock of 31* (10), laced with four sixes to propel Bangladesh’s score past 180. Later, he also picked up 1/36 in four overs, dismissing Brad Evans.

Turning Point

Zimbabwe were lackadaisical in the field as they dropped as many as seven catches, allowing Bangladesh openers to stitch a massive 120-run stand off 88 balls for the first wicket.

Later, Mohammad Saifuddin whacked Brad Evans for four successive sixes in the last over of Bangladesh’s innings, which propelled their score to 186, a total which proved too much for the hosts.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Towhid Hridoy (Bangladesh):

Look, as a batting unit and bowling unit, we bowled really well and batted really well. Batsmen, they have taken responsibility and always we are talking about partnership. We had a very good partnership in early on. So, yeah, very good. [On discussions after the defeat in the first T20I] Look, our target was to get a partnership, couple of partnerships and we executed that today. [On taking early wickets] Yeah, we did today and our bowlers really bowled well today. They are executing well there. [On the tough tour so far] As a professional player, we have to adjust quickly. So, we know the condition now, we are trying to adapt and execute the plans. [Update on Nahid Rana] Hopefully he will be okay.

Losing Captain, Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe): 

If you look at the first few overs, it definitely turned. And if you look at the seamers as well, there was a bit of a pop, there was slowness of the surface as well. We knew that the wicket is going to get better before it starts to spin. But, you know, if I have to sum it up, to be honest with you, as a captain, I'm genuinely embarrassed to be here. The way we fielded, it was a ripple effect into our batting after that. Credit to the bowlers, bar the last over, I thought even after dropping that many catches, I thought we kept them at bay at what, 19 overs, 158, 59, and I thought that was a very great performance because we had dropped seven catches by then anyway. The last over didn't go, but I think the ripple effect of those fielding performances ended up going into our batting, and that's why you see us batting the way we did today. [On Bangladesh's opening stand] After the opening partnership, we didn't think the game has got away from us as much as we fielded the way we fielded. I thought we were still within. I knew that it's not a wicket where you come out and start hitting from ball one. It's going to take a little bit more time for batters to get set, and unfortunately, the new batters would not have that much time. That's why you ended up seeing Bangladesh losing a lot of wickets in that small time. But again, the last over took the game away from us. 165, we might have gone about our business slightly differently, or we might have still chased it even after that many dropped catches. But just really, really hurtful and poor in the field, and that's something that I will be addressing. [On Evans' last over] As much as the last over hurt us, but I think, you know, the way we fielded, that was coming. I know Brad didn't fire with the ball, the way it came out of his hand, some couple of good shots, couple of bad balls. But honestly, I think to sum up our performance, I think we dropped the catch at the last ball of the 20th over as well. I mean, that just sums up how poor we were in the field today. So yeah, the last over was tough to take. 28 in, 28, 29 in that over, 160, 165, whatever the difference. Yeah, but I just think we didn't deserve to win. Even with 165, we didn't deserve to win.