Allrounder Sabbir Rahman led Bangladesh to rout Zimbabwe by 42 runs in the second of a four-match Twenty20 international series in Khulna on Sunday.
Batting first at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, hosts Bangladesh scored 167 for 3 wickets in 20 overs before they held the visitors on 125 for 8 in 20 overs.
However, Zimbabwe openers Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza made the solid start while they were chasing the 168-run target. The duo built a 50-run opening stand.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mostaza made the first strike to bowl Sibanda in the 7th over. Sibanda scored 21 off 17 with 2 fours and 1 six. One over later Sabbir Rahman sent Masakadza who scored 30 off 28 hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Shuvagat Hom then got Sean Williams (7) while Sabbir got Richmond Mutumbami (7) in two successive overs. Al-Amin Hossain made Malcolm Waller (29) caught by Soumya Sarkar in the 16th over.
Neville Madziva was bowled by Mustafizur Rahman before scoring any run. The wonder pacer of Bangladesh also bowled Peter Moor (9) in the last delivery of the 17th over. He, however, had problem with his left shoulder and could not able to make the last delivery of the inning. Sabbir bowled the last delivery and got Cremer (8) caught by himself.
Sabbir took 3 wickets for 11 in 2.1 overs while Mustafizur got 2 for 19 in 3.5 overs. Mashrafe, Shuvagat and Al-Amin Hossain claimed 1 wicket each.
Earlier, Tamim and Soumya build a 45-run partnership off 35 balls in the opening stand after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat. Tamim scored 23 off 17 balls with 3 boundaries and 1 six.
Soumya made a brilliant 43 off 33 hitting 4 boundaries and 3 over-boundaries before getting caught by Waller off Cremer in the 10th over. Mahmudullah (1) departed in the next over.
However, Sabbir Rahman who was promoted to number 3 in the batting order went hard against the Zimbabwe bowlers. He and Mushfiqur Rahim added 52 runs off 35 balls in the 4th wicket partnership. Mushfiqur was retired hurt after scoring 24 off 20 balls with one boundary.
Shakib Al Hasan then joined with Sabbir and they added 39 runs off 24 balls in the unbroken fifth wicket partnership. Sabbir was unbeaten on 43 while Shakib on 27. Sabbir played 30 balls and smashed 1 four and 3 sixes while Shakib played 17 balls and hit 2 fours and 1 six.
Bangladesh also won the first match by 4 wickets and are leading the series by 2-0. Sabbir was awarded Player of the Match prize for his unbeaten 43 and 3 wickets.
Bangladesh`s leading electronics brand Walton is the title sponsor for the series while Marcel, another renowned brand of Bangladesh`s electronics products emerged as the powered by sponsor.
