ZIMBABWE produced an all-around performance, led a man of the match performance by Wessley Madhevere to beat Bangladesh by 23 runs and level the three-T20I match series.
Bangladesh chasing 167 for victory were pegged back by the Zimbabwe bowlers, who took wickets at regular intervals to pressure visitors on a sluggish wicket.
The Chevrons needed early wickets, and Blessing Muzarabani gave his captain two scalps in his first over. Mohammed Naim was the first to go for five runs as he tried to cut a ball that was too close to him but could only manage an inside edge onto his stumps.
Three deliveries later, Soumya Sarkar followed his opening partner to the pavilion as he tried an inside out shot but could only find Sikandar Raza at point.
Bangladesh was now banking on Shakib Al Hasan’s experience, who came in at four, but the home sid’s bowling attack did not relent. Zimbabwe continued attacking as Wellington Masakadza did not give anything away.
Shakib danced down the track as he tried to hit Masakadza over the top, but the bowler pulled his length back, and Shakib chipped a simple catch to Raza at the edge of the circle. Shakib was gone for 12, and Bangladesh were in a spot of bother at 45-3 after 7 overs.
Masakadza proved a handful on that slow wicket as he struck again in his next over, and it was the big wicket of Mahmudullah. The Tigers captain was taken right in front of the long-on boundary by Tarisai Musakanda, who was fielding for the injured Regis Chakabva.
Bangladesh were now 52-4 in the 9th over, and Zimbabwe started believing. You could not keep Masakadza out of the game as he induced a false stroke from Mahedi Hasan, who fell for 15 as he holed out to Ryan Burl fielding at long-off.
Zimbabwe continued to strike with the ball, eventually bowling out Bangladesh in the final over to claim their first victory on their sixth attempt to set up what promises to be a thrilling series decider on Sunday.
Masakadza was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers with three wickets for 20 runs. Muzarabani took two wickets for 20 runs.
Zimbabwe managed to put a par score thanks to the young batting sensation Madhevere, who hit a career-best score of 73 from 57 balls, including five fours and three sixes.
Madhevere, who opened the batting with Tadiwanashe Marumani, batted most of Zimbabwe overs and upped the ante towards the end on a wicket that became difficult to score runs as the match went on.
He was ably supported by Dion Myers, who scored 26 from 21 balls, ensuring that there was a launchpad for the big hitters to come.
Late hitting from Ryan Burl ensured that the excellent start by Madhevere would not go to waste with a 19-ball 34 runs, which included two towering sixes and two fours.
Zimbabwe captain Raza was elated by the win: “Today we managed to tick a lot more boxes than we managed yesterday,” he said.
152 was not enough on Thursday, and there might have been a few jitters in the Zimbabwe dressing room at the halfway stage when Zimbabwe had scored 166 but not for Zimbabwe and Raza.
“If you had asked me before the game, I would have taken that score, and with a young squad, it gives us confidence. We backed ourselves to defend it.”
