DHAKA: Bangladesh have beaten visiting Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first T20I of the two-match series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur in city on Friday.

In response to visitors’ 131-run, Tigers batted 17.4-over and lost six wickets to score 132-run.

Tamim Iqbal scored 31-run while Mahmudullah, Liton Das, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain and Mashrafe scored 22, 17, 18, 16 and 11-run respectively.

At a stage, Bangladesh was feeling a bit strangled when Zimbabwe managed to take five wickets in 80-run in 10.5-over.

Later, 38-run partnership between Liton Das and Mahmudullah shook off the fear. In the end, 18-run partnership between Mashrafe and Mahmudullah did the job for the hosts.

AG Cremer took three Bangladesh wickets while TS Chisoro took two.

Earlier, Tiger Captain Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and invited the visitors to bat first in the day-night match began at 5:00pm (local time).

Malcolm Waller played a blinder blasting 68-run off 31-ball with 4 fours and 6 sixes after Mashrafe Mortaza and Al-Amin Hossain made early inroads into the Zimbabwe line-up taking three wickets in first three overs giving away only 10-run.

Waller, who was adjudged Player of the match, reached his 50-run off 20-ball, fastest by any Zimbabwe batsman in T20 matches.

C Ervine and SC Williams scored 20 and 15-run respectively helping them set fighting 132-run.

Mashrafe, debutant leggie Jubair Hossain, Mustafizur and Al-Amin took two wickets each while Nasir and Mahmudullah took one wicket each.

Perhaps Mashrafe was a little mixed up with the shuffling of his bowlers. Three pacers took 5 wickets for 46 in 11.3 overs while three spinners bowled 8 overs giving away 67 runs.

BDST: 2036 HRS, NOV 13, 2015
SR

** Tigers bowling against Zimbabwe