It was a commanding performance from Bangladesh, marshalled by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak and captain Shakib Al Hasan as they drew level in the series against Zimbabwe. First up, Razzak’s stellar effort of 5 for 29 restricted the visitors to 219 on a grassless track at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium while the thunder during the chase was provided by Shakib. He smashed 105 off 69 balls, including 15 boundaries and three sixes, to take Bangladesh home in the 30th over.

Opting to bat on a grassless track, Zimbabwe were given the perfect start by Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha, who put on 59 for the opening wicket. The seamers were taken apart early on as Masakadza set the tone with a flurry of boundaries off Nazmul Hossain and Dolar Mahmud.

The Bangladesh openers began at a blistering pace as Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Sidique tore into the opposition seamers. However Zimbabwe bounced back to have Bangladesh at 57/3. Shakib and Raqibul Hasan had to take up the responsibility to avoid Bangladesh going down 0-2. The batting Powerplay was taken after 10 overs, but Jarvis met with the same treatment, being hit for a four and six by Shakib off the first two balls. An odd boundary every over triggered off a vital revival phase for Bangladesh.

While Raqibul was more sedate, Shakib was scoring at almost a run-a-ball as the fifty partnership came up in a little more than ten overs. The introduction of spinners failed to turn the tide Zimbabwe’s way. Shakib cut loose in Graeme Cremer’s third over, hitting three consecutive fours, one off a free hit. There was no stopping him from there on as Price was taken apart in the next over for two fours and a six over long-on. With the seven-plus run-rate, Bangladesh were on course for a quick finish.

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