Bangladesh restrict Zimbabwe to 156/8

Ryan Burl smashed a counterattacking 28 ball-54 including 34 runs from an over of Nasum Ahmed as Zimbabwe recovered from 67-6 to post 156-8 in the third and final T20 game against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club today, reports BSS.

He was ably supported by Luke Jongwe who struck 35 off 20 as the duo shared a 79-run partnership off just 31 balls for the seventh wickets to stun Bangladeshi bowlers.

But to Bangladesh's delight, fast bowler Hasan Mahmud dismissed both of them in the penultimate over to leave Zimbabwe at least 15 runs short from their desired position.

Hasan Mahmud ended with 2-28. Offspinenr Mahedi Hasan also had same figure (2-28) and was key in ripping through Zimbabwe top order.

Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine once again won the toss and as expectedly opted to bat first. Ervine and his opening partner Regis Chakabva also got a dream start, scoring 29 runs in just third over before left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed drew the blood first, removing Chakabva for 17 off 17.

Mahedi then got into act in emphatic style, taking out Wessly Madhevere and Sikandar Raza in consecutive deliveries. Both of the batters were instrumental in Zimbabwe's 17-run victory in the first match with Madhevere hitting 67 and Raza being not out on 26 ball-65. Raza even scored a fighting 67 in the second game also, which Zimbabwe lost by seven wickets.

Bangladesh spinners then controlled the game, with Mahmudullah Riyad,
skipper Mosaddek Hossain Saikat further derailing the hosts.

However Burl went on berserk right from the words go and Nasum felt the heat most. Such was Burl's aggression on Nasum that at one phase, he raised the prospect of hitting him sixes in six balls in a row.

After hitting four straight sixes, Burl couldn't hit the fifth ball six but that even went for boundary. However the sixth ball he faced, he struck it six to amass 34 runs from that over. Nasum now became the bowler to bowl most expensive over by a Bangladeshi bowler in this format.

Burl overall struck two fours and six sixes in his knock to help the side propel past 150 runs mark, which looked highly unlikely at the halfway through the game.