Zimbabwe fall short despite Myers’ brilliance as Bangladesh claim T20I consolation victory
Zimbabwe ended their multi-format series against Bangladesh with a narrow disappointment after falling to a four-wicket defeat in the third and final T20 International at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.
The Chevrons posted 143/7 after winning the toss and choosing to bat, but Bangladesh successfully chased down the target with two balls remaining to secure a 2-1 T20I series victory.
Despite the defeat, Zimbabwe had already enjoyed success on the tour, winning both the Test and ODI series against the Tigers before Bangladesh claimed the T20I consolation.
Dion Myers was the standout performer for Zimbabwe, producing a brilliant innings of 73 runs to give the hosts a competitive total. Myers showed excellent composure under pressure, reaching his half-century from 38 balls and continuing to attack until he was run out while attempting a second run in the final over.
He received strong support from Brian Bennett, who scored 47 runs from 38 deliveries before being dismissed after an aggressive knock that included eight boundaries.
However, Zimbabwe lost wickets at important stages, with Ryan Burl, Brad Evans and Clive Madande unable to provide the late acceleration required as the hosts finished on 143/7.
Bangladesh’s chase was led by Tanzid Hasan, who produced a match-winning unbeaten 67 to guide the visitors over the line.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers fought hard, with Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans taking two wickets each, while captain Sikandar Raza also contributed with two wickets. However, Bangladesh remained calm during the final stages of the chase, with Mahedi Hasan hitting the winning boundary to seal victory.
The match also marked a historic moment for Raza, who became Zimbabwe’s most capped international cricketer after making his 314th appearance across all formats, surpassing Hamilton Masakadza’s previous record of 313 matches.
While the T20I series defeat was disappointing, Zimbabwe can take confidence from their overall performance on the tour, particularly their Test and ODI successes. The emergence of players such as Myers provided further encouragement as the team continues to build for future challenges.
The Chevrons will now shift their focus to the upcoming home series against India, which begins later this month, as they look to continue their preparations and build momentum against another top international side.
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