Twitter Reactions: Sizzling Soumya Sarkar help Bangladesh clinch series 2-1

On the back of a sensational, dominating half-century from Soumya Sarkar and a quick blitz from Shamim Hossain, Bangladesh cantered home to a five-wicket win to clinch the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe 2-1. 

After a series-levelling win 48 hours ago, Zimbabwe increased their hopes to pull off the series after setting Bangladesh 194 to win in Harare. The hosts made their intentions clear from the onset, with openers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Wesley Madhevere adding a breezy 63 for the opening wicket inside the powerplay. Bangladesh tasted first success as Mohammad Saifuddin cleaned up the former for 27 off 20. 

In at No. 3 Regis Chakabva entered right in the fourth gear, smacking sixes for fun in his 22-ball 48, of which 36 runs came in merely sixes. While Zimbabwe seemed to be running away with the game, a double-wicket 12th over from Sarkar changed the complexion as he got both Chakabva and Sikandar Raza in a space of four balls.  

Looking set to squander their quick start, Zimbabwe was accelerated back into action by Dion Myers and Ryan Burl’s striking. While Burl smashed three fours and a couple of sixes in his 31 off 15, Myers ensured to keep the tempo up from the other side to take the team score past 190.

Soumya Sarkar keeps Bangladesh in the run chase

After shining with the ball already, Sarkar made it his day with a calculated 49-ball 68, including nine fours and a six, that kept Bangladesh in the chase. Zimbabwe’s indiscipline with the ball and gifting extras eased the pressure for the visitors, who despite losing momentum in the middle phase did not lag too far behind. 

Zimbabwe had an ideal start, with Blessing Muzarabani removing Mohammad Naim cheaply, but that was when Sarkar and Shakib Al Hasan joined hands to add 50 for the second wicket at a brisk pace. Shakib, having played the aggressor, perished to Luke Jongwe for a 13-ball 25, but the second-wicket partnership ensured that Bangladesh stayed abreast of the required run-rate. 

Jongwe struck later to had Sarkar for 68, but not before he had added 63 alongside Mahmudullah, who got a crucial 34 himself. Both Hossains, Afif and Shamim, struck fierce cameos, which meant that Bangladesh chased the target with four balls to spare eventually.

Here’s how Twitter reacted: