Rana leaves the field hurt as Bangladesh level Zim T20I series

Openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Saif Hassan struck half-centuries while spinner Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain shared seven wickets as Bangladesh completed a convincing 34-run win in the second T20I and levelled the three-match series 1-1 in Bulawayo on Friday.

But the win didn’t come without casualties as Bangladesh speedster Nahid Rana left the field hurt while bowling his third over of the match and didn’t return to the field for the remainder of the innings.

Tanzid top scored with 58 off 44 balls while Saif rode his luck, getting dropped five times in the match, to make 55 off 45 as the opening pair lasted for nearly three-fourths of the innings and added 120 runs.

After both departed inside five deliveries, Yasir Ali remained unbeaten on a 12-ball 22 while Mohammad Saifuddin struck a whirlwind 10-ball 31, which included four sixes off the last over against Brad Evans, who went for 65 in his four overs, as Bangladesh posted 186-5 after being sent to bat first.

The Zimbabwean chase never gained any momentum, as Bangladesh kept taking wickets in regular succession.

Leg-spinner Rishad was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4-26 while off-spinner finished with 3-24 as the visitors bundled out the hosts for 152 in 19.4 overs.

Rana also picked up a wicket but could not complete his quota of four overs.

After bowling two overs in the Powerplay, the speedster returned to the attack in the 13th over. But after bowling the first three deliveries, he clutched the left-side of his back and soon left the field.

The victory was a relief for Bangladesh in what has been a disastrous Zimbabwe tour. They have already lost the one-off Test and the ODI series 2-1.

After winning the secondT20I, they now have a chance to leave Zimbabwe with at least one trophy, if they can beat the hosts in the third and final T20I set to take place at the same venue on Sunday.