Bangladesh make Zimbabwe clean sweep

Bangladesh completed a memorable bilateral home series against Zimbabwe, making a clean sweep of the visiting side in all three formats, this time in the two-match T20I series.

The Tigers won the second and final T20I by a convincing margin of nine wickets at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka to hammer the final nail in Zimbabwe’s coffin.

Chasing a moderate 120 for victory, the home side reached their destination in 15.5 overs as the Zimbabwe bowlers found themselves helpless in the face of some clinical batting by the Bangladeshis on a relatively good batting track in Mirpur.

Bangladesh made three changes to their playing XI in the second game, opener Mohammad Naim, pacer Al Amin Hossain and young uncapped paceman Hasan Mahmud being given the opportunity.

Naim scored 33 off 34 balls with five fours and formed a 77-run opening wicket stand with the in-form Liton Das (60 not out).

Left-handed Naim batted well but missed a good chance to post a half century as he was caught at deep midwicket while trying to clear the boundary with a pull shot in the 11th over.

Player of the match and series, Liton was his usual brilliant self at the other and continued his brilliant run of form, making 60 off 45 balls with eight boundaries.

The left-handed Soumya Sarkar was the other not out batsman, his 20 coming off 16 balls and featuring two maximums.

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah elected to field first.

Zimbabwe batsmen were unable to register a handsome total as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Bangladesh bowlers bowled good lines and lengths as Zimbabwe failed to produce any sort of fireworks. 

Veteran opener Brendan Taylor was unbeaten till the end on 59 off 48 balls with half a dozen fours and a six but in the end, the Zimbabweans put up only 119 on the board, for the loss of seven wickets in their stipulated 20 overs.

Pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Al Amin bagged two wickets each, with economy rates of 6.25 and 5.5 respectively.

Besides series sweeps in all three formats, Bangladesh team management will be delighted with the great touch shown by the batsmen, with many records falling their way throughout the lone Test, the three ODIs and the two T20Is.

Dhaka/AKA