Bangladesh Vs Zimbabwe T20 Match Played at Shere Bangla National Stadium on 13 November 2015

Bangladesh 138/6 ( Tamim Iqbal 31 ,Mahmudullah Raid 22* ,Shabbir Rahman 18, Liton Das 17 , Mashrafe Bin Mortaza 15*, AG Cremer 3/29 , TS Chisoro 2/15 ) beat Zimbabwe 131 All Out ( MN Waller 68 , CR Ervine 20 , Mustafiz 2/12 ,  Mashrafe 2/20 , Al Amin 2/20 and Jubair 2/20) by 4 wickets

Player of the Match: MN Waller

Skipper Mashrafe again led his charge from the front as Bangla tigers won the first of the two T20 matches against visiting Zimbabweans by four wickets with 14 balls to spare.

Inserted into bat visitors could post a reasonable target of 132 all out mainly due to spectacularly aggressive batting of Malcom Waller. Bangladesh however huffed and puffed for a while in getting across the target losing 6 wickets in the process. The inexperience of the both the teams in T20 format were clearly evident.

Champion Mashrafe bowled and batted well to inspire his team. He could smartly absorb the Waller explosion through smartly shuffling his bowlers. Finally when things became a little misty he kept his cool in steering his team out of troubled water.

When the list of the player appeared, it appeared that a calculated gamble was taken with Anamul and Jubaier.  Both could play the third ODI. But bringing them in the T20 straight away was some sort of gamble.

Young Jubaier had his baptism in fire. He was almost blown away by the blazing bat of Waller. But he brilliantly bounced back taking two wickets in his second over. Anamul was unlucky to be run out. Both must play the second T20.

Mashrafe chose to open the attack along with Al Amin. Magical Mustafiz were held back. Mash and Al Amin created Tsunami in visitors batting as within the first 15 deliveries they were pegged back with three blows (10/3). Crafty Mashrafe struck two critical blows with his uncanny brilliance.

 He removed Sikandar Raza and Chigumbura while Al Amin accounted for Chakaba. When Nasir cleaned up Williams in the 9 th over it became 38 /4. With back to the wall suddenly Waller exploded at this point. Sixes and fours started pouring like a torrential monsoon rain.

Nasir and Jubair were dealt with disdain. Smart Mash brought back his ace Mustafiz from one end and kept his experienced ally Riad on the other. Ervine could be consumed by Riad. But the pair of Waller and Ervine 67 priceless runs extending the innings into three figures.

Once the dangerous looking partnership was broken Mashrafe smartly brought back Jubair. Who else other than Mashrafe would have dared to give debutant leggie another over after his 17 runs first over? The talented youngster paid back grabbing two quick wickets.

Mustafiz was preserved for final overs. He dealt the vital blow removing Waller before he could inflict further damage. But his 31 balls 68 hurricane innings already gave respectability to the visitors’ innings. His innings included 4 strikes across and 6 over the fence. 68 run in a score of 131 kept them in the contest.

Mashrafe, Al Amin, Mustafiz and Jubair took 2 wickets each .The other two were shared among Nasir and Mahmudullah. Visitors’ batsmen showed lack of application and poor technique.

Bangladesh also did not bat well. T20 inexperience and nervousness caught the tigers. They looked in a hurry and panicked. Opener Anamul ran himself out. Sabbir promoted in the batting order played few delightful strokes. But Tamim was struggling with his timing. What appeared to be a cakewalk for them? Mushfique failed. Nasir and Liton got in and got out. At 5/80 the match almost became an even contest.

Zimbabwean spinners Cremer and Chisoro almost tilted the balance. But Mashrafe joining Mahmudullah steadied the rocking boat. Most fittingly the winning a lovely straight strike over the fence was struck by Mashrafe the people’s choice of the most valuable player.

Bangladesh won all right comfortably at the end. But the batting and bowling at times looked pretty ordinary. It needs major improvement if Bangladesh has to compete admirably with major other T20 teams in Asia Cup and World T20 in not too distant future.

There cannot be much complain about team selection and Mashrafe handling his resources. He did not play his tramp card Mustafiz early on. He was preserved and he ultimately delivered taking vital wicket of blaster Waller.  Mash used his offies against left handers. It was only Mashrafe who had bones of bringing back Jubair. He also paid back his captains faith grabbing two wickets. Finally, like a cool customer Mashrafe put the final nail in visitors’ coffin striking unbeaten 15 in 12 deliveries with 2 fours and a six.
 
Winning momentum took Bangladesh across .They almost messed it up. Smart Mashrafe kept better equipped Mahamudullah and Liton Das in late middle order for damage control. He himself was unnerved as usual. Luckily, for Bangladesh Zimbabwe batted very poorly. After a blitz of Waller 150 could be much more difficult target to chase. Hope the tigers would learn lessons.

BDST: 0821 HRS, NOV 14, 2015
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