DHAKA, May 7, 2024 (BSS)-Towhid Hridoy struck his maiden half-century in T20 format as Bangladesh overcame a scare to edge Zimbabwe past by nine runs in the third match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.

Having won the game, Bangladesh took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20 series.

But the victory was not as straightforward as it was in the first two matches when Bangladesh crushed Zimbabwe by eight wickets and six wickets respectively.

Put into bat first, Bangladesh compiled 165-8 with Hridoy hitting 38 ball-57 and then experienced a hiccup before defending the total by restricting Zimbabwe to 156-9.

Faraz Akram and Wellington Masakadza, the two changes of Zimbabwe for this match combined for a national record of 54 runs for ninth wicket to raise a hope of a victory. Bangladesh bowlers however held the nerve when it mattered most.

Jaker Ali Anik was the other notable scorer for Bangladesh with 44 while opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim added 21.
Bangladesh made a disastrous start, being reduced to 29-2 with both Liton Das (12) and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (6) failing to get going.

Faraz Akram had Tanzid caught by Clive Mande with a short-of-length delivery to leave Bangladesh at 60-3 in ninth over.

With Zimbabwe sniffing a chance to dominate Bangladesh, Towhid Hridoy, the most consistent batters in this series and Jaker Ali Anik counterattacked in style.

They put on 87 off 57 balls, helping Bangladesh to reach a good total that looked unlikely initially.

Hridoy raised his first T20 fifty, steering fast bowler Luke Jongwe to deep cover for a single off 34 balls.

Fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani who claimed 3-14 from four overs, finally broke the partnership, rattling the stump of Hridoy with a toe-crusher yorker after he smashed three fours and two sixes for his knock.

Two balls later, Muzarabani again executed a yorker to precision to deny Jaker Ali a half-century. Jaker who was six runs short of his fifty struck three fours and two sixes.

Mahmudullah Riyad was unbeaten on 9 and Rishad Hossain was on 6 after guiding Bangladesh past 160.

As has been the case in the series, Zimbabwe top-order failed to click again. Four of the first five batters were out for a single digit figure, denting Zimbabwe's hope to chase down the target successfully.
Opener Tadiwanashe Marumani came up with some resistance but when occasional bowler Mahmudullah got rid of him, Zimbabwe were left at 66-5.

Jonathon Campbell, who struck 24 ball-45 in the previous match, gave Bangladesh a brief scare before left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam dismissed him for 21 off 10.

With Zimbabwe on the brink of a defeat, Faraz Akram and Wellington Masakadza gave the side a ray of hope. Akram was the aggressor as he kept the runs flowing, putting Bangladesh bowlers on sword.

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed who had figures of 1-21, brought the side back in contention, giving away just 6 runs in the penultimate over as Zimbabwe needed 27 from 12 balls.

Saifuddin was bit expensive for his 3-42 but he broke the partnership, dismissing Masakadza for 13 and then defended 21 runs in the last over despite Muzarabani's consecutive fours.

Akram was unbeaten on 34 off 19, hitting two fours and as many sixes.

The fourth T20 is on Friday in Dhaka.