Tanzid half-century on T20 debut helps Bangladesh crush Zimbabwe

CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh (AP) — Opener Tanzid Hasan hit a half-century in his Twenty20 debut as Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by eight wickets on Friday.

Zimbabwe was all out for 124 and Bangladesh reached 126-2 in 15.2 overs thanks to Tanzid, who was dropped three times before hammering an unbeaten 67 off 47 balls.

Towhid Hridoy added 33 off 18 in a game which was interrupted by rain twice.

Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzurbani dismissed Liton Das for 1 in his first over and could have removed Tanzid in his second over had fielders not put down two chances in three balls.

Tanzid raised his fifty off 36 balls, punching Sikandar Raza to long-off for a single, then wicketkeeper Joylord Gumbie grassed another chance when Tanzid top-edged fast bowler Richard Ngarava on 56.

Tanzid hit two sixes and the winning runs with his eighth boundary.

“The way Tanzid batted really helped our team,” Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said. “Hridoy also batted really well and showed his character on this wicket. But I am particularly happy for Tanzid because he finished the innings.”

Fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mohammad Saifuddin, who returned to Bangladesh after 18 months out, claimed three wickets each.

Zimbabwe was made to bat first and Gumbie hit boundaries off the first two balls, but they slumped to 41-7 after losing six wickets for five runs.

“(A) majority of the senior guys on whom the batting relies on unfortunately could not come to the party but we take those harsh lessons and it’s just one game,” Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza said.

A national record 75 runs for the eighth wicket between Clive Mandane and Wellington Masakadza took their total past 100.

Mandane made a team-best 43, and Masakadza was run out on the last ball for 34.

Saifuddin took 3-15, Taskin Ahmed got 3-14 and off-spinner Mahedi Hasan grabbed 2-16.

The second of five T20s is on Sunday.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket