Waller’s knock not enough for Zimbabwe

The bowlers rallied to bundle the tourists out for a modest 131 before the batsmen overcame an inspired Zimbabwe bowling effort to reach the target in 17.4 overs on Friday. As the visitors take to the Mirpur field for one last time, they will hope that they can end this tour on a high.

But an unbeaten 22 from Mahmudullah and a quickfire 15 from skipper Mortaza saw Bangladesh home with 14 balls to spare as they went one up in the two-match series which concludes on Sunday, having already completed a 3-0 series whitewash in the ODIs.

Opener Tamim Iqbal top-scored for Bangladesh as he scored 31 off 28 balls.

Meanwhile Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza believes the game can be used as a measuring stick for his side ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in March.

“In Twenty20 cricket first six overs are crucial and we scored 47 runs at that point”. “We could have gathered more runs on the board”.

The decision bore fruit as he and Al-Amin Hossain struck early to reduce Zimbabwe to 10-3 inside three overs before Sean Williams (15) and Craig Ervine (20) offered a few resistance.

Bangladesh’s win was also helped along by a wayward performance from Zimbabwe’s bowlers towards the end.

Zimbabwe was reeling at 38-4 when Waller counterattacked, smashing six sixes and four fours on his way to the fastest T20 half-century for Zimbabwe.

Waller launched an immediate counter attack to take 17 runs off debutant leg-spinner Jubair Hossain’s first over.

“I just tried to go out there, back my game and free myself up”.

Waller, who hit four fours and four sixes, was eventually dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman as Liton Das took a catch at deep midwicket. Mashrafe Mortaza, Jubair Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman were in great shape in the previous encounter.

He said: “In the next game, we need a lot more runs on the board and bowl well and have a good start and make things easier for ourselves”.