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Published : 19 Jul 2026, 08:40 PM
Bangladesh completed a stirring turnaround in Bulawayo, recovering from defeat in the opening match to seal the three-match T20I series 2-1 with a nerve-racking 4-wicket victory.
Anchored by another mature innings from Tanzid Hasan and underpinned by disciplined fast bowling, the tourists closed their Zimbabwe tour with victory, spoiling Sikandar Raza's record-breaking 314th international appearance on Sunday.
Set a modest target of 144, Bangladesh never allowed the chase to drift despite a tense finish.
Tanzid once again stood at the heart of the pursuit, combining composure with calculated aggression to remain unbeaten on 66 and guide his side home with two balls to spare.
The left-hander, who had already finished as the leading run-scorer in the preceding ODI series, capped a superb white-ball tour by producing consecutive match-winning knocks in the last two T20Is.
His 13th T20I half-century also drew him level with Shakib Al Hasan for the second-most 50-plus scores by a Bangladeshi in the format.
Bangladesh's success was built earlier by a disciplined bowling display after being asked to field first.
Playing without injured pace spearhead Nahid Rana, the visitors relied on a balanced five-man attack that rarely allowed Zimbabwe to break free.
Taskin Ahmed set the tone with accuracy and control, while Mohammad Saifuddin and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain provided valuable support.
Zimbabwe's innings revolved almost entirely around a 71-run second-wicket partnership between Brian Bennett and Dion Myers.
Bennett supplied the early momentum before Myers gradually assumed control, striking his third T20I half-century with a fluent display that accounted for more than half of his side's eventual total of 143 for 7.
Beyond that stand, however, Bangladesh squeezed the hosts relentlessly.
Zimbabwe's middle order collapsed under sustained pressure, with none of the remaining specialist batters reaching double figures.
The visitors were particularly impressive at the death.
Zimbabwe looked set for a stronger finish after reaching 118 for 3 with four overs remaining, but Bangladesh's seamers slammed the brakes on.
Saqlain varied his pace cleverly to dismiss Ryan Burl, Saifuddin removed Brad Evans and Clive Madande in successive deliveries, and Taskin closed out the innings superbly with an over that conceded just five runs and ended with Myers being run out.
Zimbabwe managed only 25 runs while losing four wickets in the final four overs.
The chase demanded patience against Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani, who once again posed the biggest threat with the new ball.
Tanzid absorbed the early pressure before unfurling a crisp flick for six off Ngarava to signal his intent. Bangladesh reached the end of the powerplay cautiously before the opener shifted through the gears.
He first shared a half-century stand with Parvez Hossain Emon, then another with Towhid Hridoy, ensuring the asking rate never spiralled beyond control.
Reaching his fifty from 45 deliveries, Tanzid timed his acceleration perfectly before steering Bangladesh towards the finish.
There was still late drama.
Brad Evans dismissed both Mossadek Hossain and Saifuddin in the final over to briefly raise Zimbabwe's hopes, while a heated exchange followed after an lbw appeal against stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was nullified when the umpire ruled the delivery dead before it was bowled.
Any hopes of a miraculous turnaround vanished moments later when Bangladesh struck the decisive boundary, sealing the series and ending their tour on a winning note.
