Bangladesh take 2-0 lead against Zimbabwe

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed put a gem of fast bowling show to guide Bangladesh to a six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second T20 International at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday.

Bangladesh won the first match by eight wickets and now take 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Taskin followed his 3-14 with 2-18 in this match as Zimbabwe amassed paltry 138-7, a total that Bangladesh hunted down in 18.3 overs by scoring 142-4.

Towhid Hridoy struck 25-ball 37 not out with three fours and two sixes to hasten the victory.

Mahmudullah who confirmed the victory with an elegant cover-drive for boundary, was unbeaten on 26 off 16.

When opener Liton Das and Tanzid Hasan put on 41 runs, it appeared that Bangladesh would seal another easy victory.

However Luke Jongwe who scalped 2-34, gave Bangladesh a tough fight. Pacer Ainsley Ndlovu, one of the three changes of Zimbabwe, broke through with the wicket of Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who played a match-winning 67 not out in the first game.

Tanzid was dismissed on 18 after failing to execute his slog-sweep shot properly.

Jongwe removed captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (16) and Liton Das (23) in the space of three balls and when pacer Richard Ngarava got the better of Jaker Ali Anik (13), Bangladesh was left at 93-4 in 14th over.

Hridoy and Mahmudullah dented Zimbabwe's hope to put Bangladesh in trouble further, adding 49 runs that ensured the side's victory.

When Taskin Ahmed once again provided the impetus, legspinner Rishad Hossain complemented him with two wickets too.

Jonathon Campbell, the son of Zimbabwe legend Alastair Campbell, who made his debut with this match, saved Zimbabwe from ultimate blushes by hitting 24 ball-45, a knock laced with four fours and three sixes.

Brian Bennet was not out on 44 after hitting two fours and three sixes from 29 balls.

Put into bat first, Zimbabwe made a slow start, largely due to Bangladesh bowlers disciplined bowling with Joylord Gumbie particularly struggling to rotate the scoreboard.

Taskin drew the blood first when he successfully reviewed a leg-before decision to dismiss Tadiwanashe Marumani for 2.

Gumbie's struggle came to an end after Saifuddin had him caught by Najmul Hossain Shanto at mid-off. He scored 17 off 30 balls with just a single boundary as Zimbabwe wobbled at 30-2 in eighth over.

Mahedia Hasan (1-18) and Rishad Hossain sliced the middle order, forcing Zimbabwe loss three wickets including captain Sikandar Raza (3) for six runs.

Campbell was dropped by wicket-keeper Jaker Ali Anik on 1 off Mahedi Hasan but he found the rhythm when he flicked Shoriful Islam for a six over the square leg.

After that he was unstoppable. Shoriful undid Campbell with a slower, ending 73-run between him and Bennet.

However, Bennet pushed the scoreboard to a moderate total by playing some lusty shots.