Openers, Mahedi and Rishad help Bangladesh keep series alive
Zimbabwe were sloppy in the field and lost wickets in clusters with the bat
Zimbabwe were sloppy in the field and lost wickets in clusters with the bat
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Rashad Mahbub
Well folks, that's a wrap of the action here in Bulawayo. Thank you for tuning in and staying with us. Do join us again for the series decider the day after tomorrow. Until then, this is Rashad Mahbub signing off on behalf of Vairavan Karuppaiah and the rest of the Cricinfo crew. Goodnight and goodbye.
Towhid Hridoy: "As a unit, we bowled and batted really well. The batters took responsibility. We are always talking about partnerships, and we had a very good one early on. It was very good batting. [Preparation for the batting unit] Our target was to get a couple of partnerships, with the main focus on the start of the innings. We needed that early partnership, and we executed it today. Looking at the wicket today, our bowlers really bowled well. Our plan was to bowl tight lines, and they executed that well here. [Tough tour in terms of results] As professional players, we have to adjust quickly. We know the conditions now, so we are trying to adapt and execute our plans. [Nahid Rana] Hopefully, he will be okay."
Player of the Match, Mohammad Saifuddin: "First of all, Alhamdulillah. After a long time, it's my first Player of the Match award in T20 Internationals. That's why I'm so excited. Also, we have come back 1-1 in the series. All credit goes to our opening batters. They batted really well. They set up the tone for a big score. Credit also goes to our bowling attack for doing well. Mahedi, Rishad, everyone did well. [Adjusting to the conditions] We discussed it a lot over the last few days. We needed to adjust to the conditions. This is winter here, whereas our conditions at home are very hot. We had a little bit of a problem adjusting to the wicket. But two days ago, we had a good meeting, and that's why our batters did really well today."
Sikandar Raza: "[Conditions] If you look at the first few hours, it definitely turned. And if you look at the seamers as well, there was a bit of a pop. There was slowness of the surface. We knew that the wicket was going to get better before it started to spin. But to be honest, as a captain, I'm genuinely embarrassed to be here. The way we fielded had a ripple effect into our batting. Credit to the bowlers, bar the last over. Even after dropping that many catches, we kept them at bay until the 19th over at 158 or 159. I thought that was a great performance because we had dropped seven catches by then anyway. The last over didn't go well, but the ripple effect of those fielding performances went into our batting, and that's why you see us batting the way we did today. [Bowling unit] After the opening partnership, we didn't think the game had gone away from us as much as the way we fielded made it seem. I thought we were still within reach. I knew that it's not a wicket where you come out and start hitting from ball one. It's going to take a little bit more time for batters to get set, and unfortunately, the new batters would not have that much time. That's why you ended up seeing Bangladesh losing a lot of wickets in that small window. But the last over took the game away from us. At 165, we might have gone about our business slightly differently, and we might have still chased it even after that many dropped catches. It was just really hurtful and poor in the field, and that's something I will be addressing. [How much did that last over hurt you] As much as the last over hurt us, the way we fielded, that was coming. I know Brad didn't try to bowl the way it came out of his hand. A couple of good shots, a couple of bad balls. But to sum up our performance, we dropped a catch off the last ball of the 20th over as well. That just sums up how poor we were in the field today. The last over was tough to take. Conceding 28 or 29 in that over compared to chasing 160 or 165 is different. I just think we didn't deserve to win. Even with 165, we didn't deserve to win."
Mustafa Moudi : "England vs India ODI Series, West Indies vs New Zealand ODI Series and now this T20I Series... Glad that all 3 Matches series went to Decider after being 1-1 after the first 2 games !!"
Manoj G: "@Nishad: You are talking about sending a 'B' team. This is a full fledged series and already the main 'A' team lost test, one day series and T20 series is yet to be decided. If these games are walk in the park for this team, sending your 'B' team is okay. But if not, its all experience and the main guys should get this experience. "
4:05 pm A clinical display with the ball has allowed the visitors to level the series and get back to winning ways, ending their T20I losing streak. Zimbabwe were in early trouble, losing both openers within the first two overs. Raza then struck two fours and a six to get his team back on track in the sixth over, taking the home side to 56 for 3 at the end of the powerplay. Just when Raza was looking in brilliant touch, he departed for a 12-ball 28, nicking a length ball behind to the keeper off Rishad. Rishad continued to cause damage, removing Shumba in his very next over with a lovely flighted delivery. Zimbabwe lost wickets in clusters and failed to build any substantial partnerships, never looking like they were in the hunt to chase down the target. Burl and Musekiwa steadied the innings slightly in the middle overs, but Burl departed for 29 off 19 balls after attempting a slog stroke against Rishad, only to be caught at deep midwicket. A late cameo from Brad Evans, who smashed 25 of 14 balls, provided some entertainment, but the target score proved far too out of reach for the home team. Rishad starred with career-best figures of 4 for 22, while Mahedi chipped in with three wickets. The post-match presentation is coming up next.
Bangladesh won by 34 runs
B Muzarabani b Rishad Hossain 0 (5m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Aweed: "saifuddin deserves motm"
38 runs needed off 6 balls. Rishad to bowl the last one.
Blessing Muzarabani is the last batter in
Zimbabwe were sloppy in the field and lost wickets in clusters with the bat
Bangladesh brought in Rishad Hossain for Nasum Ahmed