Tigers finally ended a nerve shattering drama with a happy note with a three runs victory over Zimbabwe in the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T-20 Cricket World Cup on Sunday.
Bangladesh after being sent to bat first riding on a maiden fifty of Nazmul Hossain Shanto set a moderate target of 150 for Zimbabwe to chase.
But after a huge ups and downs of the match turned into breathless with a last over drama staged at Brisbane.
After winning the match Tigers showed a lot of confidence and also proved that they can keep their nerves cool at critical situation.
However, the victory was a result of combined efforts from bowlers, batters and also fielding side, that always needing much from the Tigers.
Zimbabwe. Sending the Tigers to bat first made an early breakthrough with taking opener Soumya Sarkar on whom Bangladesh and Litton Das, who looked a bit confident, expecting to mend the early damage followed Somya very soon.
Soumya looked a bit double minded when trying to push a Muzarabani ball toward cover failed to connect the ball perfectly which moved to outside taking the edge and raised around the keeper Chakabva’s shoulder-height, he comfortably gloved it.
Liton Das, appeared with upbeat attitude but followed Somya after playing a shaky shot despite coming into crease with some determination being on course to go for a long but after facing 12 balls and scoring 14 runs hitting three fours, gifted the wicket to Muzarabani with trying to play scoop on a wider ball just floated it at the short third-man region.
However, Nazmul Hossain Shanto the other opener just took the responsibility to bring the Tigers’ innings to a respectable position accompanied by Shakib Al Hassan and Afif Hossain. But Shanto was very much unfortunate not to carry the bat through leaving the crease when 3.4 overs were left of the innings.
Shanto played extremely the most valuable innings bashed 71 off 55 deliveries to almost single-handedly carry Bangladesh to 150 for 7, the next-highest score in the team was 29 of 19 balls from Afif Hossain..
However, Tigers, as well started a very convincing start with the ball when Taskin Ahmed struck with his third ball of first over, scoreboard showed only four runs.
At a stage Taskin accompanied by Mustafiz reduced Zimbabwe to 59 for five in 11.2 overs to make it uphill task for the African side.
But Williams, appeared as a great threat scoring a rapid 64 off 42 balls before being run out with an outstanding effort by Tigers’ captain Shakib. Might be the run out was the turning point of the match.
However, the real drama started in the last over it needed 16 runs to win for Zimbabwe with Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava made the match very closer with the later had a leg-bye four and hit a huge six, as it needed Zimbabwe five runs with last two balls, bowler was Mosaddek Hossain. Mosaddek had a charging Ngarava stumped, bringing Blessings Muzarabani to middle, and he had to hit the ball to the boundary. But Mosaddek beat his big swing and he was stumped off the last ball.
Players celebrated the wicket and left the ground, the broadcasters started setting up the presentation stage, but they had to go out and the players had to come back for one more tilt. Mosaddek kept his cool, twice in the space of one legal delivery when Muzarabani missed the last-last ball too, and the show was over, Bangladesh to clear up an exciting three-run win to diminish Zimbabwe semi-final hopes.