Bangladesh secured victory in the T20 series with a nine-run win over Zimbabwe in the third T20I held in Chittagong on Tuesday.
Despite a late surge from Faraz Akram, who scored an unbeaten 34 off 19 balls, setting a new record for any Zimbabwean batting at number 10, Zimbabwe fell short at 156-9.
Faraz and Wellington Masakadza built a 54-run partnership for the ninth wicket, rescuing the visitors from a precarious 91-8 situation. However, their efforts weren’t enough, as they needed 21 runs from the final over. Mohammad Saifuddin’s crucial dismissal of Masakadza in the first ball tilted the match in Bangladesh’s favor. Saifuddin conceded only three runs on the last three balls, securing the win for Bangladesh.
Earlier in the match, Towhid Hridoy scored his maiden Twenty20 international fifty with a brisk 57 off 38 balls, guiding Bangladesh to a respectable total after a slow start. Supported by Jaker Ali, who contributed 44 off 34 balls, the duo stitched together a crucial 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Despite Blessing Muzarabani’s career-best figures of 3-14, Zimbabwe struggled to contain Bangladesh’s innings. Muzarabani dismissed Liton Das and also claimed the wickets of Towhid and Jaker in quick succession in the penultimate over.
Bangladesh had previously won the first two matches, leading the five-match series 2-0. The final two matches of the series are scheduled to take place in Dhaka on Friday and Sunday.
