Ban v Zim 3rd T20I Review: Zimbabwe gets one back with a solid all-round display

A light drizzle delayed the toss in the third T20 in Khulna but not the match as Zimbabwe’s stand-in captain Hamilton Masakadza opted to bat, still looking for their first win of the series which his team finally registered. Compared to Bangladesh’s five changes with four debutants, Zimbabwe made only two by bringing in Sikandar Raza and Tendai Chisoro, and left out Wellington Masakadza and Neville Madziva.

The hosts’ debutants included left-arm pacer Abu Hider, right-arm quicks Mohammad Shahid and Muktar Ali and Mosaddek Hossain. From the second T20 that they won by 42 runs, Bangladesh was without Mushfiqur Rahim, Shuvagata Hom, Al-Amin Hossain, Tamim Iqbal and Mustafizur Rahman. Imrul Kayes was the fifth player to come in to play his first match of the series.

The pitch looked batsmen-friendly with some cracks that might help the spinners later in the evening and had a tinge of green early on. Masakadza said the 160-run mark looked good to defend on this pitch and he was spot on. He was the first to be dismissed for 20 off 14 in fast start for the visitors which saw them adding 45 in 4 overs.

Vusi Sibanda continued his good form and spanked 44 off 33 including 6 fours and 1 six while Mutumbami made 20 off 14. In a solid performance by the top order, Sean Williams contributed 32 off 26 however the knock of the match was produced by Malcolm Waller who smashed 4 sixes and 2 fours in a 23-ball 49. Zimbabwe finished with 187/6 as most of the home side bowlers struggled. Shakib Al Hasan bowled well in his spell of 3/32 while Mosaddek Hossain bowled 2 tight overs conceding just 10 runs.

Chisoro justified his selection by removing Imrul Kayes in the first over and set the tone for the rest of the innings. Soumya Sarkar took 21 balls for 25 that included many dot balls along with 1 six and 3 fours. He became leg-spinner Graeme Cremer’s first of 3 wickets in a brilliant spell of bowling. Sabbir Rahman looked in ominous mood one again and smashed a 50 off 32 balls including 9 fours however fell to a half-tracker from Raza. Hossain was cleaned up by Raza as the hosts were reduced to 100/4.

The two huge wickets of Shakib and Mahmudullah taken by Cremer effectively sealed the match for Zimbabwe. Nurul Hasan though gave a glimpse of his batting prowess with an unbeaten 30 off 17 that featured 5 fours. Muktar Ali also remained unbeaten on 19 off 15 as Bangladesh finished on 156/6. Cremer with 3/18 was well supported by Raza (2/7) and Chisoro (1/15). This win will give the visitors confidence to end the series on a high on Friday.

Brief Scores:

Zimbabwe: 187/6 in 20 overs (M Waller 49; Shakib 3/32)

Bangladesh: 156/6 in 20 overs (S Rahman 50; G Cremer 3/18)

Man of the Match: Malcolm Waller (Zimbabwe)