Sports Desk:

Mesmerizing batting display from youngman Afif Hossain Dhrubo purchased a stirring victory for Bangladesh in the action-packed opener of the T20i tri-series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday night. Hosts beat guests by three wickets.
Earlier in the evening, the  toss of the rain-affected match delayed one and a quarter hours for wet outfield. The fate of the match curtailed to play 18-over a side. Bangladesh chose to field first winning the toss awarding 64th T20i cap to veteran spinner Taijul Islam, who had been treated as Test specialist. Afif Hossain Dhrubo regained national cap after one and a half years.
Taijul however, got a dreamy start who picked up his maiden T20i scalp in the very first ball of his career. He found the wicket of Zimbabwean opener Brendon Taylor to give Bangladesh an early breakthrough in very second over of the innings.    The good-looking 3rd wicket partnership of 44 runs between visiting captain Hamilton Masakadza and batsman at three Craig Ervine was broken by cutter master Mustafizur Rahman as guests lost their second wicket standing at 51. Masakadza followed Ervine in the next over of Saifuddin while Mosaddek Hossain joined the party to shake Zimbabwean middle order. Touring side thereafter, were at 59 for four at the end of the half way of the innings.
Misunderstanding between Rayan Burl and Timycen Maruma helped hommies further and Maruma’s run out steadied Bangladesh bowlers domination over Zimbabwe batsmen. But storm of Ryan Burl gave guests a handsome total. He hits Shakib three massive and equal number of fence kissing shots in the 17th over. Shakib conceded 30 runs in his fourth over, which is the worst T20 bowling over in his lifetime till date. Burl on the other hand, picked up his windy half century from 28 facings.
The power failure at the end of 17th over at the home of cricket Mirpur compelled eight minutes stoppage of the game. Such technical failure during an international event undoubtedly is a matter to raise fingers to the sincerity and capacity of grounds officials.
Zimbabwe against all odds, were able to post 144 for five ridding on the magical 81-run 5th wicket joint venture between Tinotenda Mutombodzi and Ryan Burl. Both of them were unbeaten scoring 27 and 57 runs respectively. Mosaddek, Taijul, Mustafiz and Saifuddin claimed one wicket each for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh in reply, seemed very strong but for a while before fireworks began from Zimbabwean speedsters. Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara shared Bangladesh top four batsmen within powerplay. Irresponsible batting from Bangladesh batters in fact, pushed Zimbabwe uppercase. Mushfiqur Rahim accompanied a golden duck while captain Shakib went just after opening the account.
Mosaddek-Afif’s heroic fueled the winning hope of hosts after batting disaster of Bangladesh losing six batsmen yet before plying half innings to score 60 runs only. But number-8 batsman Afif Hossain, who started batting with a boundary shot, hammered Zimbabwean bowlers to snatch the match from their paw. Afif played match winning knock of 52 runs from 26 deliveries before being caught by Masakadza at short cover. Mosaddek however, remained unbeaten scoring 30 runs. Saifuddin played a rope kissing shot in the fourth ball of the 18th over to wrap up the game as Bangladesh were at 148 for seven.
Afif named the Player of the Match.
Two visiting sides Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will take on each other today in the other game of the tournament at the same ground.