ZIMBABWE’s pace attack once again underlined why it is becoming one of the most feared units in international cricket after Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani shared eight wickets to power the Chevrons to a commanding 32 run victory over Bangladesh in the opening T20I at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday.
The victory handed the Mukuru sponsored Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the three match series and extended the confidence flowing through the side following recent successes in both Test and One Day International cricket.
After Bangladesh opted to field, Zimbabwe recovered from a flurry of middle order wickets to post a competitive 170 for six, a total built around aggressive contributions from Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl and Brad Evans.
Bennett once again provided Zimbabwe with an explosive start, smashing 44 from just 30 deliveries with six boundaries and a six. His fearless stroke play helped Zimbabwe race to 54 for one inside the Powerplay before Nahid Rana removed him with the score on 90.
Dion Myers added 20 from 20 balls while captain Sikandar Raza injected fresh momentum with a brisk 20 off only 13 deliveries that featured two fours and a towering six.
Bangladesh threatened to restrict Zimbabwe when Nahid Rana claimed four wickets for 26, dismissing Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Milton Shumba and Tashinga Musekiwa.
However, the hosts produced a clinical finish through Burl and Evans.
Burl remained unbeaten on 30 from 25 deliveries, while Evans struck an unbeaten 19 from only 10 balls, crashing four boundaries as the pair added valuable late runs to lift Zimbabwe to 170 for six.
Bangladesh’s chase never truly settled as Zimbabwe’s fast bowlers extracted bounce and movement from the Bulawayo surface.
Captain Richard Ngarava struck first, removing Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan in the same over with well directed short deliveries that forced mistakes from both opening batters.
Muzarabani then joined the party by dismissing Parvez Hossain Emon to leave Bangladesh reeling at 34 for three inside five overs.
Although Yasir Ali attempted a rescue mission with an entertaining 54 from 38 balls, finding the boundary twice and clearing it three times, Zimbabwe never allowed Bangladesh to establish lasting partnerships.
Milton Shumba delivered a crucial breakthrough by removing Bangladesh captain Towhid Hridoy for 14 before Sikandar Raza produced outstanding awareness in the field with a direct hit to run out Nurul Hasan at a critical stage.
With Bangladesh still requiring 41 runs, Zimbabwe’s senior quicks returned to finish the contest emphatically.
Muzarabani dismissed the dangerous Mahedi Hasan before Ngarava removed Yasir Ali with the very first ball of his final spell, triggering the collapse.
Ngarava struck again moments later by dismissing Mohammad Saifuddin, while Muzarabani wrapped up the innings in style by removing Nasum Ahmed before crashing Nahid Rana’s off stump with a pinpoint yorker to complete figures of four for 17.
Ngarava matched his attack partner with four wickets for 26 and walked away with the Player of the Match award after leading Zimbabwe’s relentless bowling effort.
