ZIM vs BAN: Somya Sarkar, Mohammad Naim shine as Tigers thrash hosts in T20I series opener

At the start of their innings when Regis Chakabva and Wesley Madhevere were hitting all Bangladeshi bowlers all over the park, even a total of 200 was in sight for the Zuimababweasn. But as has been the case in this entire three format tour, as soon as the settled batsmen got out, it became exceedingly difficult for the men in Red and Gold to score runs and they eventually folded for 152 in the 19th over itself, unable to complete even their designated 20 overs. 

Bangladesh openers Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim then gave the Tigers an emphatic start, adding 102 runs for the opening wicket. The visitors seemed to be rolling across to the victory rope pretty fine unless two quick wickets and some tight overs by Luke Jongwe and Wellington Masakadza meant that Bangladesh suddenly required 27 from the last three overs.

With options of Jongwe, himself and Madhevere to chose for, skipper Sikandar Raza went for an audacious choice for Richard Ngarava who had till then conceded 30 in his three overs. The choice didn’t work out well for him as the bowler conceded 16 in the 18th over and left only 11 runs to defend in the last two. 

Much like in the last ODI, Nurul Hasan Sohan, who joined Naim at the crease after Mahmudullah’s dismissal, seemed in a hurry to finish the game. He hit Blessing Muzarabni for a six on the second ball of the 19th over to bring the equation down to 4 from 10 balls. Naim then hit Muzarabani for a four on the fourth ball to finish the game. 

While 21-year-old Naim remained unbeaten 63 from 51 balls, Sohan hit 16 from 8 balls. Sarkar, who got run out after hitting his fifty from45 balls having already picked a wicket in the first innings in his two overs was adjudged Man of the Match. 

The two teams will meet again tomorrow on July 23 at the same venue and while Zimbabwe would look to save the series and stretch it to the finale on July 25, Bangladesh would look to make it 2-0 and win this series to win all formats on this tour.