In a game where both teams was on the verge of almost being eliminated, Bangladesh kept their semis hopes alive by defeating Zimbabwe by 3 runs in the 28th match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 at The Gabba, Brisbane.
The Tigers’ bowlers did a decent job in the game by restricting Zimbabwe, who came in this game with a win over Pakistan, for 146 to help their side win the game by 4 runs.
Earlier, Najmul Hossain Shanto played a brilliant knock of 71 to help Bangladesh reach 150/7 in 20 overs.
BAN Vs ZIM match highlights
Opted to bat, Bangladesh lost their two openers inside the powerplay, and score during the first six overs was also not in favour of Tigers, considering a big match.
But, a 54-run partnership between opener Najmul Hossain Shanto and the skipper Shakib Al Hasan steadied their ship and recued the team.
Shakib, however, gone after scoring 23 off 20. Shanto, on the other side, remained calm and playing steadily to guide his side to a respectable score.
A quick partnership between Shanto and Afif Hossain of 36 in 20 further helped the side to cross the 120-mark with almost 4 overs more to play.
Zimbabwe’s star all-rounder finally provided his side a major breakthrough in the 17th over by removing the dangerous Shanto.
He recorded 71 off 55. His knock included seven fours and one six. Afif’s knock 29 in 19 at last guided the side to post 150 on board.
Zimbabwe to chase 151 in 20 overs
It was not the start Zimbabwe wanted, as they lost their top 4 batters inside the powerplay in a 151-run chase game.
The biggest setback for them was the wicket of Sikandar Raza, who gone without scoring.
Sean Williams and Regis Chakabva then tried to bring their team back in game by adding some runs for the fifth wicket, but Chakabva edged a length ball by Taskin Ahmed in the 13th over that again shifted the side on back foot.
Williams was standing rock solid and again did a good partnership this time with Ryan Burl.
With 95 on board in 15 overs and still required 56 to win in 5, both batters tried to shift their gears and in that process they collected 10 off the 16th over. 6 runs off the 17th over. 14 runs from the 18th.
The equation then set to 26 to win in 12 overs.
Shakib the skipper then took the ball in his hands, and changed the momentum once again to the Tigers side with his all-round skill. Williams while trying to get a tight single got run-out.
His knock of 64 in just 42 was very crucial in the run-chase and his presence was all Zimbabwe was hoping for there. However despite his wicket, Zimbabwe still managed to collect 10 off the 19th over, and needed 16 from the final 6 balls.
The ball was in the hands of Mosaddek Hossain, and no one imagined that it will again be an edge of the seat final-over.
Burl took one of the first ball, Evans shot the ball high in the air but due to longer boundaries he Afif Hossain caught at the mid-wicket.
The game still finished as Ngarva smashed a four and a six to bring the equation to 5 in 2 balls, but Hossain bowled 2 brilliant deliveries and the keeper Nurul Hasan did no mistake on the first ball but he did on the second by collecting the ball before the stumps while stumping to give one more chance to Zimbabwe but Muzarabani didn’t managed to connect, as Zimbabwe lost the game by 3 runs.
