Afif Hossain's explosive half-century helps Bangladesh register thrilling win over Zimbabwe in tri-series opener

by Saksham Mishra & Cricket World Friday 13 September 2019

Afif Hossain (52, 26b)

©ICC

Bangladesh got off to a disastrous start due to the early blows from Tendai Chatara and Kyle Jarvis and were tottering at 60-6 at one point but Afif Hossain (52, 26b) still had the fire burning inside.

Match Summary

Zimbabwe 144-5

Bangladesh 148-7

Bangladesh won by 3 wickets (18 overs/side)

??Bangladesh win! ??

At 60/6 they looked in all sorts of trouble but Afif Hossain hit his maiden T20I half-century in just his second game and Mosaddek Hossain 30* as the pair added 82 for the seventh wicket ??

Final scorecard ?? https://t.co/31dBmhs6pe pic.twitter.com/hGuNyuUb16
— ICC (@ICC) September 13, 2019

With the match been reduced to 18 overs per side due to rain, Zimbabwe did not get off to a good start as they lost wicketkeeper-batsman Brendan Taylor in the second over. Playing his third-last game, skipper Hamilton Masakadza played with freedom and scored a 26-ball 34.

After a couple of quick wickets, it was the unbeaten 32-ball 57 from Ryan Burl, supported by Tinotenda Mutombodzi, that took Zimbabwe to 144 from their 18 overs, which was a decent score on the Shere Bangla pitch.

Mohammad Saifuddin, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Mosaddek Hossain all shared one wicket each while Shakib Al Hasan went wicketless and leaked runs at an economy of over 12.

Zimbabwe recover from 63/5 to set Bangladesh 145 to win the first T20I of the tri-series!

Ryan Burl top scored with a brutal 57*.

Can Bangladesh chase down this total? pic.twitter.com/lgnczQqa6W
— ICC (@ICC) September 13, 2019

Bangladesh got off to a disastrous start due to the early blows from Tendai Chatara and Kyle Jarvis and were tottering at 60-6 at one point but Afif Hossain still had the fire burning inside.

Afif showed intent from ball one and smacked boundary after boundary to score a half-century from 26 deliveries and take the team to a three-wicket win with able support from Mosaddek Hossain.

Neville Madziva, Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara picked up two wickets each for Zimbabwe but their efforts were not good enough to clinch a win.

Bangladesh- Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Afif Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Zimbabwe- Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Ryan Burl, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Tony Munyonga, Neville Madziva, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara