Muzarabani, Ngarava give Zimbabwe early series lead

Four-wicket hauls from Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava helped Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 32 runs in the first T20I in Bulawayo.

Chasing 171, Bangladesh made a positive start but Ngarava struck twice in quick succession. Muzarabani then reduced them to 43/3 in the Powerplay.

Yasir Ali and Towhid Hridoy rebuilt, but Hridoy fell to a catch in the deep. A run out made it 78/5, though Yasir reached his half-century with three sixes. At 113/5 after 15 overs, Bangladesh needed 58 from the final five overs.

Muzarabani returned in the 17th over to break the stand. Ngarava dismissed Yasir and Mohammad Saifuddin in the next over. Muzarabani finished with 4-17, adding the final two wickets in the penultimate over.

Earlier, Zimbabwe posted 170/6. Brian Bennett smashed 44 off the first ball for a boundary. Tadiwanashe Marumani hit back-to-back sixes as Zimbabwe raced to 34/0 in 2.2 overs.

Bangladesh fought back with wickets, but Brad Evans smashed four boundaries in the final over off Nahid Rana to push Zimbabwe past 170.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 170/6 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 44, Brad Evans 19*; Nahid Rana 3-26) beat Bangladesh 138 in 19 overs (Yasir Ali 54; Blessing Muzarabani 4-17, Richard Ngarava 4-26) by 32 runs