Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 18 runs in the fourth Twenty20 international to clinch a 2-2 draw in the four-match series in Khulna yesterday.
Hamilton Masakadza hit 93 off 58 deliveries as the visitors reached 180-4 in their 20 overs before dismissing Bangladesh for 162 after 19 overs.
Masakadza’s half-century was the highest Twenty20 international innings ever for Zimbabwe, improving his own record of 79, which he scored against Canada in 2008 and again in the opening match of the current series.
Photo: AFP
Needing a win to draw the series, Zimbabwe, who opted to bat first, began aggressively, despite the early dismissal of opener Vusi Sibanda.
Sibanda flashed Mashrafe Mortaza to Shakib Al Hasan at cover after making just 4, but Richard Mutumbami and Masakadza put on 80 runs in the second wicket to give them a flying start.
Rookie paceman Abu Hider bowled Mutumbami for 32 with a brilliant yorker after the batsman earlier survived at 10 off his bowling when Taskin Ahmed dropped a catch at fine-leg.
Taskin compensated with the wicket of Malcolm Waller, the man of the match in Zimbabwe’s 31-run victory on Wednesday, who looked dangerous again before he was bowled on 36 off 18 deliveries.
Masakadza, who struck eight fours and five sixes, stayed till the end to give Zimbabwe an imposing total.
Bangladesh won the first two matches by four wickets and 42 runs respectively before Zimbabwe bounced back with the third.
In the run chase, Bangladesh fell to 4-17 early and only Mahmudullah with 54 from 41 provided anything of substance.
The next two best for the hosts were Mashrafe Mortaza (22) and Imrul Kayes (18) as regular wickets dented their run rate.
Tendai Chisoro and Neville Madziva were the best of the bowlers. Chisoro took 3-17 and Madziva 4-34.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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