T20I Tri-series 2019, Match 1, Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe – Greatest ever comeback, Afif Hossain's blitz, record partnerships and more stats

Bangladesh began the T20I Tri-series at home with a close 3-wicket win in the tournament opener against Zimbabwe on Friday. Bangladesh were six down for just 60 runs on the board by 10th over while chasing 145 from 18 overs. Afif Hossain, who came to bat at No.8, scored a 26-ball 52. He shared an 82-run stand for the 7th wicket in only 47 balls with Mosaddek Hossain (30*) to guide the host to a win. Earlier, Zimbabwe finished on 144/5 in the restricted 18 overs. They recovered from 63/5 by adding 81 in 8.3 overs for the 6th wicket as Ryan Burl scored 57 from only 32 balls.

All the statistical highlights from Bangladesh’s narrow win over Zimbabwe in the first match:

Greatest comeback ever:

88 – Bangladesh added 88 runs for 7th and lower wicket in his game. These are the most number of runs added by any team after losing 6th wicket to win a T20I.

England added 85 runs against Afghanistan in 2016 WT20 game during the first innings. Sri Lanka’s 84 runs against Australia in the 2017 Geelong T20I are the most runs in a successful T20I chase after losing 6th wicket.

A record knock from Afif:

1 – Afif Hossain became the first player to score a fifty in a successful T20I chase while batting at No.8 or a lower position. Isuru Udana (84* vs SA, 2019) and Simi Singh (57* vs Netherland, 2018) scored the fifties while batting at No.8 during unsuccessful chases.

Kenya’s Ragheb Aga scored an unbeaten 52 while batting first against Scotland in 2013 also at No.8. No player before Afif has scored even 40 runs in a T20I innings for Bangladesh while batting at No.7 or lower position.

24 – Afif Hossain’s 24-ball fifty is the joint 2nd fastest fifty for Bangladesh in T20I cricket. Mohammad Ashraful’s 20-ball fifty against West Indies in the 2007 WT20 is the only T20I fifty came in fewer deliveries than that of Afif.

A game of lower-order rescues:

2 – Only the 2nd time in T20I history that two players batting No.6 or lower position scored half-centuries in a match. Denesh Ramdin (at No.6) and Luke Ronchi (at No.7) scored the fifties during the 2014 Wellington T20I between New Zealand and the West Indies.

81* – The unbeaten 81-run stand between Ryan Burl and Tinotenda Mutombodzi is Zimbabwe’s highest T20I partnership for 4th or a lower wicket. The pair of Hamilton Masakadza, Peter Moor added 77 for the 6th wicket against Afghanistan during the 2016 Sharjah T20I.

82 – The partnership of 82 runs between Mosaddek Hossain and Afif Hossain is the 2nd highest partnership in the T20Is for 7th or a lower wicket. Paul Collingwood and Michael Yardy shared 77 runs for the 7th wicket during the 2007 T20I against West Indies at The Oval.

Longest career for Zimbabwe:

18y 48d – Hamilton Masakadza became the first player to complete 18 years in International cricket for Zimbabwe. Masakadza made his International debut in July 2001 and will retire after the ongoing Tri-series.

Taijul starts with a wicket:

1 – Taijul Islam became the first Bangladesh bowler to take a wicket with the first ball of T20I career. There are 15 other known instances of a bowler picking up a wicket with their first ball of T20I career.