Bangladesh managed to pull off a four-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 International overcoming Malcolm Waller’s marauding 31 ball-68, and went up 1-0 in the series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday. Waller was the only one in the either side to make batting easy in the difficult surface but his effort couldn’t dent Bangladesh’s surge. The hosts rode on the team effort to seal the deal despite a hiccup.
Zimbabwe however huffed and puffed on their way to compile 131 before being all out in 19.3 overs and raised hopes of victory by taking regular wickets but  Bangladesh cantered to the victory, making 136 for six in 17.4 overs with captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (15 not out) signing it off gorgeously hitting consecutive four and six off Luke Jongwe.
Tamim Iqbal was the highest score for the side with 31 while Mahmudullah Riyad was unbeaten on 22. Albeit they lost opener Anamul Haque Bijoy in the first over, Bangladesh still looked to win the match convincingly when Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman Rumman plundered the Zimbabwe pacers all corner of the park.
But the scenario changed dynamically once the spinners started operating. Tendai Chisoro firstly quivered Bangladesh by dismissing Rumman (18) who pulled powerfully but Craig Ervine at point took a brilliant catch by diving his right. The catch seemed to have rejuvenated the Zimbabwe.
Graeme Cremer then removed Mushfiqur Rahim (2) who played an injudicious pull to get a top-edge. Cremer However dealt a double blow in his second spell by getting rid of Tamim Iqbal and Nasir Hossain in three deliveries. The match by the time tilted to Zimbabwe but Mahmudullah Riyad and Liton Das combined for 38 runs to take the side closer.
In his second spell, Chisor though managed to take the wicket of Liton Das, Bangladesh weren’t bother much. Graeme Cremer returned figures of three for 29 and Tendai Chisoro grabbed two for 15. Earlier, Malcolm Waller unleashed an ultra-aggressive batting after Bangladesh had left them in wobbling 38 for four, but still Zimbabwe failed to set a reasonable target. He smashed six sixes and four fours in his 31 ball-68 on his way to hit the fastest T20 half-century for Zimbabwe and only the one who could dominate Bangladesh bowling which had vast of variations.
Captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza began the carnage rattling Zimbabwe top order in a gem of controlled fast bowling. His slower proved to be decisive in dismissing opener Siknadar Raza while he got his opposite number Elton Chigumbura with a delivery that kept low.
Al-Amin Hossain gave the captain a support, taking away another opener Regis Chakabva and Nasir Hossain piled the hosts of misery dismissing Sean Williams to leave Zimbabwe panic-stricken. Waller came in the crease and made immediate impact, having ruined Jubair Hossain Likhon’s T20 debut as he took 17 runs of his maiden over.
Waller was in no stopping mood despite Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s repeated bowling and fielding change but Bangladesh got back into the contention with the wicket of Craig Ervine with whom Waller shared 67 runs for the fifth wicket.  Riyad made the crucial breakthrough with a straight delivery that hit the middle stump. Ervine made a patient 20 off 31, playing a second fiddle to Waller.
Likhon, thoroughly rammed by Waller in his first over, came back with a bang in the second over and dealt a double strike having removed Luke Jongwe and Neville Madziba. The collapse however didn’t dent his mood as he kept hitting. Mustafizur Rahman however gave Bangladesh a relief by getting him when he tried to clear the boundary once again and thereby kept the target limited to just 132. Mustafizur Rahman, Mashrafe Mortaza and Al-Amin claimed two wickets apiece.