Sports Reporter :Spirited Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first Twenty20 International match at the crowd-packed Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.Chasing Zimbabwe’s fighting total of 131 off 19.3 overs, Bangladesh sailed home making 136 for the loss of six wickets when they had 14 balls to spare.Bangladesh had a disastrous start as opener Anamul Haque (1) was run out by Sikandar Raza when the hosts’ score was six for the loss of one wicket.Then Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman tried to repair early damage contributing together 39 runs for the second wicket partnership before Sabbir Rahman (18) was caught by Craig Ervine off Tendai Chisoro when Bangladesh’s total was 45 for the loss of two wickets.After dismissal of Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (2) was caught at the short cover by Sikandar Raza off Graeme Cremer when the home sides’ score was 54 for the loss of three wickets.Then Nasir Hossain (16) was trapped leg before wicket by Graeme Cremer when the hosts’ total was 79 for the loss of four wickets.Bangladesh were under pressure when set batsman Tamim Iqbal was trapped leg before wicket by Graeme Cremer when Bangladesh’s score was 80 for the loss of five wickets.Tamim Iqbal hit a fine 31 from 28 balls with three shots across the ropes.Later, Mahmudullah Riyad and Liton Das added 38 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Liton Das (17) was caught at the backward point by Graeme Cremer when Bangladesh’s total was 118 for the loss of six wickets.Then Mahmudullah Riyad and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza helped their team to earn victory adding 18 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket partnership.Mahmudullah remained undefeated with 22. His 21-ball knock was studded with two fours, while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza remained unbeaten with 17. He hit two fours, in his 12-ball knock. Graeme Cremer grabbed three wickets at the cost of 29 runs, while Tendai Chisoro bagged two wickets for 15 runs.Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers totally dominated over the Zimbabwean batsmen. Mustafizur Rahman, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Al-Amin Hossain, Jubair Hossain bagged a pair of wickets each instead of 16, 20, 20 and 20 runs respectively.Besides, Mahmudullah Riyad and Nasir Hossain took one wicket each for 18 and 29 runs respectively. Zimbabwe faced an early debacle losing four wickets for 38 runs. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza gave his team early breakthrough as opener Sikandar Raza (4) was caught at the mid-off by Liton Das off Mashrafe when Zimbabwe’s score was four for the loss of one wicket.Then Regis Chakabva (0) was caught by Mushfiqur Rahim off Al-Amin Hossain when the tourists’ total was eight for the loss of two wickets.Mashrafe struck again as Elton Chigumbura (0) was bowled out by Mashrafe when the visitors’ score was 10 for the loss of three wickets.After dismissal of Chigumbura, Sean Williams (15) was cleanly bowled out by Nasir Hossain when the touring sides’ total was 38 for the loss of four wickets.Later, Malcolm Waller and Craig Ervine built a worthy partnership adding together 67 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Craig Ervine (20) was bowled out by Mahmudullah Riyad when the African’s score was 105 for the loss of five wickets.Waller restored some parity for the tourists making the day’s highest of 68. His windy 31-ball innings was ornamented with six sixes and four fours. Malcolm Waller was adjudged the Man of the Match for his hurricane innings.After removal of Ervine, Luke Jongwe (0) was trapped leg before wicket by Jubair Hossain when the visitors’ total was 106 for the loss of six wickets.Then Jubair Hossain struck again as Neville Madziva (1) was caught at the long-off by Nasir Hossain off Jubair when Zimbabwe’s total was 108 for the loss seven wickets.Mustafizur Rahman removed Waller when he was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Liton Das off Mustafizur when the visitors’ score was 122 for the loss of eight wickets.After dismissal of Waller, Al-Amin Hossain bowled out Graeme Cremer (3) when Zimbabwe’s total was 126 for the loss of nine wickets.Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Tinashe Panyangara (4) as he was trapped leg before wicket by Mustafizur and the tourists’ innings came to an end.
