Opener Soumya Sarkar’s top 68 helped Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by five wickets in Harare to win the T20 International series 2-1 on Sunday. Challenging set of 194 runs for victory in the third T20I, the tourists reached the target with four balls to spare when middle-order batsman Shamim Hossain hit a single.
Inspired by Wesley Madhevere (54 off 36 balls) and Regis Chakabwa (48 off 22), Zimbabwe posted 193/5 as they sought their first breakthrough in the two-nation T20I series. But all-rounder Sarkar, who won the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards, set the tone for a scintillating run chase that gave Bangladesh an all-format sweep in the South African nation.
Not only did he top the score, but his right-arm medium-pacer took a 2–19 lead, the most impressive figures among Bangladesh’s six bowlers. The Tigers started the tour with a one-off Test victory, then went on to win all three One Day Internationals. All seven matches were played behind closed doors in Harare due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The boys showed their character, everyone contributed. Shamim played an important innings and it was a good performance from the batsmen,” said captain Mahmudullah Riyadh.
“I think Soumya is a useful all-rounder. When I gave him the ball, he got me two wickets and when the team needed him to stand with the bat, he did it.”
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Sarkar faced 49 balls and hit a six and nine fours before being caught by substitute Tarisai Muskanda at long-off after biting a delivery from Luke Jongwe.
Solid innings from Mahmudullah (34) and Shakib Al Hasan (25) kept the runs going and Shamim Hossain was dropped to take Bangladesh over the line. He leveled the score by hitting a four off the first ball of the last over and a single off the next ball created a celebratory atmosphere among the tourists.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza was disappointed but not disappointed after his best innings of the T20I series proved insufficient to win.
“We improved with each game and I thought 193 was defendable on that track. By the start of the 18th over, I was sure we would win. “The last two overs didn’t go according to plan, but it gives us heart to see the youngsters standing up and making valuable contributions and it is the right move. Direction.”
While Madhevere and Chakabwa led for Zimbabwe, Ryan Burle (31 not out), Tadiwanase Marumani (27) and Dion Myers (23) also had valuable contributions. The only batsman to flop was Raza, who was dismissed for naught, his second of the series, and was run out for four in his second innings.
Madhevere was dismissed when he reverse sweeps and Shoreful Islam hit six boundaries and was caught at short third man. Chakabwa hit six sixes and swung the ball back to deep midwicket before being dismissed by a brilliant catch by Mohammad Naeem and Shamim pulled it off to catch.
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