Shakib ensures Tigers start series on a high

Bangladesh

Home team Bangladesh held their nerve as they beat Zimbabwe by four wickets with eight balls remaining in the first of four T20 internationals in Khulna on Friday.

Tigers allrounder Shakib Al Hasan (20 not out from 13 balls) showed his experience as he guided the home team to victory as they wobbled while chasing a total of 164.

Sabbir Rahman (46), Tamim Iqbal (29) and  Mushfiqur Rahim (26) were the other major contributors as the hosts started what is a long build up to the World T20 in March.

Graeme Cremer looked to have brought Zimbabwe back into the game as he claimed the wickets of Iqbal and Sabbir in the middle overs, but Shakib made sure the supporters went home happy.

The African side, who won the toss and decided to bat first, failed to build on a good platform that was laid by openers Hamilton Masakadza (79) and Vusi Sibanda (46), who added 101 in 12 overs.

After the openers departed, wickets fell at regular intervals as the visitors could not sustain the run-rate towards the latter half of the innings as they mustered 163 for seven in 20 overs.

The bowler that did that most damage for the Tigers was left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman as he recorded impressive figures of two for 18 in his four overs.

The sides will play the second T20I of the series at the same venue on Sunday.

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