Bangladesh seal T20 series to end Zimbabwe tour successfully

SPORTS DESK: Soumya Sarkar came up with scintillating allround performance as Bangladesh chased down a mammoth 194-run target with incredibly ease to snatch a five-wicket victory and thereby won the three-match T20 International series by 2-1 at Harare Sports Club today, BSS reports.

By winning the last match of the tour, the Tigers completed a hattrick of series win against Zimbabwe. The visitors won the one-off Test and whitewashed Zimbabwe in three-match ODI series before sealing 2-1 win in T20 series. The only defeat came in the second T20, which gave Zimbabwe a chance to win the series.

But the hosts’ aspiration was not fulfilled despite compiling a hefty 193-5 as Bangladesh gunned down the total with four balls to spare.

Soumya Sarkar led the charge with 2-19 in bowling before hammering a terrific 49-ball 68.

Bangladesh though lost opener Naim Sheikh (3) cheaply, Soumya stood tall against the adversities and kept the side in a position of dominance. Soumya Sarkar’s sublime 49-ball 68 included nine fours and one six. It was his second half-century in the series.

While Soumya played the match defining knock, he was ably supported by Shakib Al Hasan and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad, who batted aggressively to keep the asking run rate always under control.

Shakib struck two fours and one six in his 13-ball 25 while Mahmudullah hit 34 off 28 with two fours and one six before being out in the 19th over. Mahmudullah’s dismissal gave Bangladesh a shock but youngster Shamim Patwari, playing only his second match, sailed the side home with an unbeaten 31 off 15, cracking six boundaries.

Afif Hossain was the other notable scorer with 14 off just 5, clobbering two sixes.

Opener Wessley Madhevere gave Zimbabwe a flying start along with Tadiwanashe Marumani after captain Sikandar Raza decided to bat for the third time in a row in the series.

They shared 63 runs in just six overs before Marumani fell for 27. But Madhevere sent the ball across the rope for six times to hit 54 off 35.

While Madhevere gave the platform, Regis Chakabva whacked Bangladesh bowler sin style to clatter 48 off just 22 as he smote six towering sixes. Ryan Burl gave the finishing touch, making an unbeaten 31 off 15 with three fours and two sixes.

While Soumya bagged 2-19, Shakib, Saifuddin and Shoriful took one wicket apiece for Bangladesh.