Bangladesh sealed a comfortable win against Zimbabwe in the first T20 international of the three-match series in capital Harare on Thursday.
Batting first, Zimbabwe posted a challenging total of 152 all out in 19 overs. In response, Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim hit a fifty each to guide the Tigers to an eight-wicket victory over the hosts.
Soumya and Naim added 102 runs, which is now the highest first-wicket stand in T20Is for the Tigers. Along the way, the openers surpassed Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das’ record of 92 runs — which the duo scored against the same adversary in March 2020.
Soumya scored 50 off 45 balls with four fours and two sixes, while Naim remained unbeaten on 63 off 51 balls with six fours.
Mahmudullah Riyad, the T20I captain, batted at number three and scored 15 off 12 balls with one four. Nurul Hasan Sohan came to bat next and remained unbeaten on 16 off eight balls with a four and a six.
Bangladesh scored 153 with seven balls to spare and won the game to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
For Zimbabwe,Regis Chakabva continued to perform well. He scored 43 off 22 balls — the highest for the hosts. In the ODI series as well, he had scored two fifties.
Dion Myers also had a good start but he fell prey to Shoriful Islam.
For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman bagged three wickets with two in the 19th over, while Mohammad Saifuddin and Shoriul scalped two wickets each.
The second and third T20I of this series will take place on July 23 and 25, respectively, at the same venue.
