1st T20I, Harare, July 30, 2022, 04:30 PM
Zimbabwe
205/3(20.0ov)
Bangladesh
188/6(20.0ov)
Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 17 runs
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Sikandar Raza
Commentry
Right then! That's it we have from the first T20I! Zimbabwe have continued their good run of form in the shortest format and have begun this series with a victory. We have witnessed a cracker of a game and the next game is not too far away. The second T20I will be played on Sunday 31st of July. The action is all set to begin at 4.30 pm IST (11.00 am GMT). Do join us in advance for the build-up. Till then, it's goodbye!
Craig Ervine the skipper of Zimbabwe says that 200 was not in anyone's mind, but Sikandar Raza and Wesley Madhevere put on a great partnership, and they were happy to get there. Adds that they always wanted to hit the ground running. Ends by saying that they will try to give fewer extras and improve on that.
Nurul Hasan says that it was a really good game, Zimbabwe batted really well, but they need to bowl better, and he thought they gave away around 15 runs extra. Mentions that it was a really good pitch and they thought they could chase this one down. Ends by saying that they will come back stronger in the next game.
Sikandar Raza is the Player of the Match. He says that they discussed that around 170-180 around would be good, and after the start that they got, they thought it was possible to get there. Adds that it was not a 200-plus wicket, he felt 180 should have been enough, there were odd balls that stayed low, but they were pleased with getting 205 on the board.
Stay tuned for the presentation...
Earlier in the day, after electing to bat, Zimbabwe batted brilliantly. Sikandar Raza was the star for them. He was the difference between them finishing with above 200 and around 180 and that 20-25 runs proved to be the difference in the end. An exceptional game to get this series underway!
Zimbabwe were good with the ball, barring a few no balls, they stuck to their plans and managed to find wickets at important times. Craig Ervine's captaincy was also really good as he rotated his bowlers brilliantly. Luke Jongwe was the bowler who grabbed 2 wickets in his spell. Although Richard Ngarava was expensive he bowled an excellent 19th over which probably sealed the game for Zimbabwe. Overall, Zimbabwe deserved to win as they were the better side.
The problem for the visitors was, that they kept losing wickets. Whenever the momentum seemed like shifting, they managed to lose a wicket. A few of their batters got off to starts but none could make it big. Nurul Hasan played brilliantly in his first outing as skipper. He really gave Bangladesh the belief that they could pull this off but lacked support from the other end.
A really good fight shown by Bangladesh but right from the start, we felt above 200 was going to be a huge task. The visitors though should be happy they got quite close to the total and maybe if one of their batters would have gone on to score big, the result could have been different. However, it's Zimbabwe who have come out on top and have taken a 1-0 lead in this series.
In over# 20
0
0
0
6
4lb
0
Tanaka Chivanga 28/0(3)
19.6
.
Fuller ball, outside off. Nurul Hasan knocks it down towards long off. No run taken! Zimbabwe win by 17 runs!
19.5
.
A fuller one, around middle. Nurul Hasan gets low and swings it away towards square leg. No run there!
19.4
.
A slower ball, shorter, outside off. Nurul Hasan looks to pull this one but he misses. That should be the game for Zimbabwe!
19.3
6
DROPPED AND SIX! Oh, dear! A length ball, around middle. Nurul Hasan heaves it high towards deep mid-wicket. Wellington Masakadza there, goes for the catch, but the ball goes through his hands and over the ropes for a biggie! 18 off 3 now!
19.2
4lb
FOUR LEG BYES! A shorter ball, down the leg side. Nurul Hasan looks to pull this one but he misses. The ball brushes off his pads and goes towards fine leg for a boundary.
19.1
.
A slower ball, yorker, around middle and off. Nurul Hasan drives it back to the bowler.
In over# 19
0W
1wd
1
1
1
0
0
Richard Ngarava 43/1(4)
18.6
W
OUT! CAUGHT! A deserving wicket for Richard Ngarava! What an excellent penultimate over this is. He has probably secured the game for the home side. A low full toss, wide of off. Mosaddek Hossain slashes this one towards deep point. Milton Shumba there takes a good catch. 28 runs needed off the last over!
18.6
1wd
Wide! A low full toss, wide of off. Mosaddek Hossain leaves it alone. Wide called!