The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
A sensational half-century from middle-order batter Ryan Burl helped Zimbabwe to a 10-run victory over Bangladesh in the third and final Twenty-20 International at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.
The win gave the Chevrons their first series victory over the Asians.
The hosts will therefore have momentum going into the three-match One-Day Internationals that begin on Friday at the same venue.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Zimbabwe struggled to get a grip of the tie on their way to posting 156 for eight.
The hosts lost wickets at regular intervals and found themselves staring down the barrel of yet another series loss midway through their innings, as they slumped to 67 for six in the 12th over.
It took the intervention of a seventh-wicket stand between Burl and all-rounder Luke Jongwe to bring some respectability to their total.
The two shared a partnership of 79 runs off 31 balls, with Burl going so far as to score 34 runs off Bangladesh’s Nasum Ahmed in the 15th over.
Burl finished with 54 runs off 28 balls, which included six maximums and two boundaries.
Jongwe made 35 runs off 20 balls as Zimbabwe finished on 156 for eight during their allotted 20 overs.
While Burl’s contribution proved to be the difference, Chevrons head coach Dave Houghton should be proud of his boys’ all-round effort, particularly as they set about defending their total.
Victor Nyauchi – one of three changes to the squad – took two early wickets that made Bangladesh stumble early in their chase.
Sikandar Raza’s four overs (0 for 21) were economical and Brad Evans – another reserve – took two wickets in two balls that shifted momentum back to Zimbabwe towards the end.
Everybody chipped in one way or another.
Overall, Bangladesh finished on 146 for eight, 11 runs shy of their target.
Only Afif Hossain’s unbeaten 39 runs for 27 balls really stood out during Bangladesh’s chase, while Nyauchi finished the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers with three for 29 runs.
Burl was duly named Player-of-the-Match, while Raza finished as Player-of-the Series.
With an eye on the ODIs, Chevrons’ skipper Craig Ervine lauded his charges’ all-round effort and gave special mention to the reserves that were given a run in Tuesday’s game.
“We struggled a little bit upfront but that one over (15th) pushed the momentum back in our favour,” said Ervine.
“We came with the plan that our reserve players were as good as players in the XI, and we could have easily fallen over today but the guys showed the fight.”
