Shakib Claims Four As Bangladesh Edge Zimbabwe
Returning all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan claimed 4-35 to help Bangladesh recover from a batting collapse and beat Zimbabwe by five runs in Friday’s fourth Twenty20 international in Dhaka
Returning all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan made a significant impact, claiming 4-35 to assist Bangladesh in recovering from a batting collapse and securing a five-run victory against Zimbabwe in Friday’s fourth Twenty20 international in Dhaka.
Mustafizur Rahman also played a key role with the ball, taking 3-19, as the home side bowled out Zimbabwe for 138 runs in 19.4 overs.
Chasing a modest target of 143, Zimbabwe faced an early setback with opener Brian Bennett departing for a duck in the first over. The team quickly found themselves at 57-4. However, they fought back with a middle-order partnership, with Johnathan Campbell and Ryan Burl adding 35 runs.
Mustafizur’s dismissal of Burl, who scored 19 runs, and Shakib’s removal of Campbell for 31 tilted the game in Bangladesh’s favor. Wellington Masakadza’s quickfire 19 runs from eight balls kept Zimbabwe’s hopes alive, but he fell in the final over when his team needed 14 runs to win.
In the last over, Shakib dismissed Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava to seal the victory for Bangladesh.
Batting first after losing the toss, Bangladesh had a strong start with openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Soumya Sarkar putting on a 101-run partnership for the first wicket. Tanzid scored 52 off 37 balls before being dismissed by Luke Jongwe, who also claimed the wicket of Soumya for 41 in the same over.
Despite the promising start, Bangladesh collapsed, losing their remaining eight wickets for just 35 runs and getting bowled out for the first time in the series.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza removed Towhid Hridoy for 12, while Bennett took two wickets in one over, dismissing Shakib for one run.
Having already secured the series with three consecutive wins, Bangladesh will face Zimbabwe in the fifth and final match of the series in Dhaka on Sunday.
