In a thrilling encounter in Dhaka, Bangladesh secured a hard-fought win against Zimbabwe by a narrow margin of five runs in the fourth Twenty20 international match on Friday.
The returning all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan emerged as the star performer for Bangladesh, claiming figures of 4-35, supported by Mustafizur Rahman who took 3-19. Their efforts proved crucial in a match marked by fluctuating fortunes.
Facing a target of 143, Zimbabwe’s chase got off to a disastrous start as opener Brian Bennett departed for a duck in the very first over.
Despite early setbacks, they staged a comeback with a middle-order rally led by Johnathan Campbell and Ryan Burl, who stitched together a vital 35-run partnership.
However, the duo’s efforts were thwarted by the bowling prowess of Mustafizur and Shakib, who struck crucial blows to put Bangladesh back in control.
As the match approached its climax, Wellington Masakadza’s blistering 19 off eight balls injected fresh excitement into the contest, bringing Zimbabwe within striking distance of victory.
However, their hopes were dashed in the final over when Shakib, playing his first T20I in nearly a year, dismissed Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava to seal the win for Bangladesh.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh’s innings got off to a flying start courtesy of openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Soumya Sarkar, who forged a formidable 101-run partnership for the first wicket.
However, their momentum was halted by Luke Jongwe, who broke the partnership by dismissing Tanzid for 52 off 37 balls. Soumya fell shortly after, leaving the hosts vulnerable.
Despite the strong start, Bangladesh suffered a dramatic collapse, losing their remaining eight wickets for just 35 runs to be bowled out for the first time in the series.
Zimbabwe’s captain, Sikandar Raza, played a pivotal role in their bowling effort, claiming key wickets including that of Shakib. However, his team’s efforts fell short as Bangladesh emerged victorious.
With this win, Bangladesh secured the series victory, having already won the first three matches. Zimbabwe will look to salvage some pride as they conclude their tour with the fifth and final match of the series in Dhaka on Sunday.
