In a thrilling display of all-round brilliance, Shakib Al Hasan made a triumphant return to T20Is after nearly a year, guiding Bangladesh to a narrow five-run victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth Twenty20 international match held in Dhaka.
Shakib’s exceptional performance saw him claim four wickets for 35 runs, well-supported by Mustafizur Rahman, who contributed with figures of 3-19. Despite facing an early batting collapse and being reduced to 57-4, Zimbabwe showcased resilience through a middle-order partnership between Johnathan Campbell and Ryan Burl.
However, Bangladesh regained control of the match with crucial breakthroughs from Mustafizur and Shakib, ultimately bowling out Zimbabwe for 138 runs in 19.4 overs and securing the win. Bangladesh’s innings began explosively with a remarkable 101-run opening stand between Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Soumya Sarkar.
Although Zimbabwe fought back admirably to restrict Bangladesh, the hosts faced a collapse, losing their last eight wickets for just 35 runs. With the series already sealed in favor of Bangladesh, Zimbabwe will now aim to salvage pride in the fifth and final match of the series scheduled to take place in Dhaka on Sunday.
Shakib Al Hasan’s stellar performance marks a significant comeback for the seasoned all-rounder, providing a boost to Bangladesh’s campaign in the T20I series. As both teams gear up for the final showdown, cricket enthusiasts can expect another exciting clash as Zimbabwe looks to make a statement and Bangladesh aims to maintain its winning momentum.
