Zimbabwe draw first blood in Twenty20s

Hosts win opening match by six runs against Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe clinched a thrilling encounter against Bangladesh, taking the first of two Twenty20s by six runs at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, according to ESPNcricinfo.

After racking up a competitive 168 for five, Zimbabwe saw Bangladesh reach 120 for one in the 15th over before the tourists lost their way. Bangladesh were restricted to 162 for eight with Tinashe Panyangara delivering a terrific final over to help his team gain a 1-0 lead.

Zimbabwe had earlier made a decent total after electing to bat. Hamilton Masakadza struck his seventh fifty, while captain Brendan Taylor hit a crucial 40 as they put Zimbabwe on course for a big total. Bangladesh were brought back into the game by their spinners after the Taylor-Masakadza partnership ended, with Shakib Al Hasan getting both wickets and bowling economically in between.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2013.