Mosaddek Hossain’s magnificent opening performance enabled Bangladesh to defeat Zimbabwe in Harare and tie the series. The part-time offspinner became just the fourth bowler from Bangladesh to take a five-for in Twenty20 Internationals, joining Elias Sunny, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shakib Al Hasan. He achieved his first five-wicket haul in just the sixth over of the innings.
Sikandar Raza produced a valiant half-century, his second of the series, with Zimbabwe in ruins, but the total of 135 was insufficient. With a half-century from opener Litton Das, Bangladesh led the way in chasing down the score, which was reached with seven wickets left to fall and 15 balls remaining.
For the first time in T20Is, Mosaddek opened the bowling and scored with the first pitch of the game when Regis Chakabva edged the wide, harmless delivery to the wicket-keeper. Wessly Madhevere, who had scored fifty runs in the opening T20I, blasted one straight to cover-point, where Mahedi Hasan collected an easy catch with the final ball of the over.Mosaddek reduced Zimbabwe to 6 for 3 in his second over by getting captain Craig Ervine caught at slip while attempting a reverse sweep. The next victim was Sean Williams, who returned a chip to Mosaddek in the fifth over. The bowler had to leap to complete the return catch.
When Milton Shumba pulled one towards deep midwicket, Mosaddek finished his five-for only to see Hasan Mahmud race hard and complete a diving catch. The lowest total for which Zimbabwe had lost their first five wickets in a T20I was 31, and Mosaddek became the first bowler from Bangladesh to take the first five wickets to fall in an innings.
With an 80-run partnership for the sixth wicket, Raza and Ryan Burl halted the decline. Raza struck sixes over the leg-side boundary as well as fours through cover and deep third to earn his second half-century of the series. Before being sent out by Mustafizur in the 19th over, he made 62 from 53 balls.
When Hasan Mahmud bowled Burl for 32 in the 18th over, Burl had already lost. As Zimbabwe attempted to take advantage of the resurgence that Raza had sparked, Luke Jongwe hit a late six in the closing stages of the innings.When Litton hit Tanaka Chivanga for two sixes and a four in the third over, Bangladesh’s chase got off to a fast start. However, Munim Shahriar, his opening partner, left him for the second game on the cheap.
Bangladesh reached the mark thanks to Afif Hossain’s undefeated score of 30 off 28 balls and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 19 off 21 deliveries. After losing their first two wickets in the span of four balls, Bangladesh’s innings was not interrupted throughout their uninterrupted 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket.With the series now tied at one all, Bangladesh will play the series’ finale on Tuesday in Harare.
