Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh lost to Zimbabwe by 17 runs in their first Twenty20 International (T20I) match at Harare Sports Club Ground in Zimbabwe on Saturday.
Chasing Zimbabwe’s massive total of 205 for the loss of three wickets in 20 overs, Bangladesh were restricted to 188 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.
Bangladesh had an unhappy start as they lost opener Munim Shariar ( 4) when Bangladesh’s score was just five.
Then, Litton Das and Anamul Haque Bijoy repaired the damage adding together 58 runs in the second wicket stand before Litton Das was run out by a joint-effort of Richard Ngarava and Sean Williams when Bangladesh’s total was 63 for the loss of two wickets.
Litton Das hit 32 from 19 balls featuring six fours.
Anamul Haque Bijoy (26) was caught at the deep midwicket by Milton Shumba off Sikandar Raja when the tourists’ score was 85 for the loss of three wickets.
Third-down Afif Hossain (10) was caught at the deep midwicket by Wellington Masakadza off Luke Jongwe when the visitors’ total was 106 for the loss of four wickets.
Second-down Najmul Hossain Shanto and Nurul Hasan Sohan built a worthy partnership. They put on together 40 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Shanto was caught behind by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva off Luke Jongwe when Bangladesh’s score was 146 for the loss of five wickets.
Shanto made 37 from 25 balls including three fours and a sixer.
Sohan and Mosaddek Hossain added 32 runs in the six-wicket stand before Mosaddek (13) was caught at the deep backward point by Shumba off Ngrava when the visitors’ total was 178 for the loss of six wickets.
Sohan remained unbeaten with 42 runs. His 26-ball innings saw four sixes and one four.
Jongwe was his team’s most successful bowler with two wickets for 34 runs.
Earlier, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams shone with the willow.
Madhevere notched up 67 from 46 balls with nine fours, while Raza remained unbeaten with 65. He hit nine sixes in his 46-ball innings.
Williams scored 33 from 19 balls featuring four fours and a sixer.
Mustafizur Rahman bagged two wickets for 50 runs, while Mosaddek Hossain took one wicket for 21 runs.
