Malcolm Waller and Graeme Cremer starred with bat and ball respectively but Zimbabwe still fell short in the first Twenty20 international against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday.
The hosts bundled Zimbabwe out for 131 runs 19.3 overs before stuttering to reach 136-6 in 17.4 overs to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.
Waller struck a total of 68 off 31 balls as Zimbabwe recovered from a disastrous start to get a decent score.
Cremer then finished with 3-29, including two wickets in one over, but they were not good enough for Zimbabwe to end their dismal run in the tour.
Bangladesh won the preceding three-match one-day international series 3-0.
Tamim Iqbal scored highest 31 runs for the hosts while Mahmudullah added an unbeaten 22 to take Bangladesh home.
Skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza, unbeaten on 15, hit Luke Jongwe a straight to six to end the game.
Mashrafee and Al-Amin Hossain struck early to help Bangladesh reduce Zimbabwe to 10-3 inside three overs before Sean Williams (15) and Craig Ervine (20) offered some resistance.
Waller joined Ervine after spinner Nasir Hossain bowled Williams to leave Zimbabwe tottering at 38-4.
Waller launched an immediate counter attack to take 17 runs off debutant leg-spinner Jubair Hossain’s first over.
He then scored 20 off the next over by Nasir and completed his 50 off just 20 balls, Zimbabwe’s quickest in Twenty20 internationals.
Waller, who hit a total of four fours and sixes, was eventually dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman as Liton Das took a catch at deep midwicket.
Mustafiz claimed 2-16 while Mortaza, Al-Amin and Jubair each grabbed two wickets for 20 runs.
The second match of the series will be held at the same venue on November 15.
The hosts bundled Zimbabwe out for 131 runs 19.3 overs before stuttering to reach 136-6 in 17.4 overs to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.
Waller struck a total of 68 off 31 balls as Zimbabwe recovered from a disastrous start to get a decent score.
Cremer then finished with 3-29, including two wickets in one over, but they were not good enough for Zimbabwe to end their dismal run in the tour.
Bangladesh won the preceding three-match one-day international series 3-0.
Tamim Iqbal scored highest 31 runs for the hosts while Mahmudullah added an unbeaten 22 to take Bangladesh home.
Skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza, unbeaten on 15, hit Luke Jongwe a straight to six to end the game.
Mashrafee and Al-Amin Hossain struck early to help Bangladesh reduce Zimbabwe to 10-3 inside three overs before Sean Williams (15) and Craig Ervine (20) offered some resistance.
Waller joined Ervine after spinner Nasir Hossain bowled Williams to leave Zimbabwe tottering at 38-4.
Waller launched an immediate counter attack to take 17 runs off debutant leg-spinner Jubair Hossain’s first over.
He then scored 20 off the next over by Nasir and completed his 50 off just 20 balls, Zimbabwe’s quickest in Twenty20 internationals.
Waller, who hit a total of four fours and sixes, was eventually dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman as Liton Das took a catch at deep midwicket.
Mustafiz claimed 2-16 while Mortaza, Al-Amin and Jubair each grabbed two wickets for 20 runs.
The second match of the series will be held at the same venue on November 15.
Source: New Age
