Bangladesh will have their task cut out against the inform Zimbabwe © AFP
By CricketCountry Staff
Harare: Jun 21 2012
Zimbabwe face a tricky challenge against Bangladesh in their T20 clash at the Harare Sports Club.
The Zimbabweans shocked the Hashim Amla-led South Africa by 29 runs on Wednesday.
The home team posted 176-4 off 20 overs and restricted the visitors to 149 in 19.2 overs before a large, delirious crowd used to seeing Zimbabwe suffer heavy losses against one of the top cricket nations in the world.
Unfortunately, the Harare tournament is unofficial so the result will not enter the record books, but the outcome can only boost Zimbabwean morale ahead of the World Twenty20 clash between the countries on September 20 in Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe top the table halfway through the mini-league phase having defeated Bangladesh by 11 runs in the opening match last Sunday while hot tournament favourites South Africa had 39 runs to spare over the Tigers Tuesday.
While the Proteas' bowling and fielding left much to be desired against Bangladesh, they flopped in all departments against Zimbabwe with Colin Ingram (48) and opener Richard Levi (40) the only significant run contributors.
Chris Mpofu (3-20) and Graeme Cremer (3-29) were the chief tormentors among the Zimbabwe bowlers while Richard Muzhange (2-28) also inflicted pain as the Proteas lost wickets at regular intervals.
Bowler Wayne Parnell, who was dismal against the Tigers, fared better with 2-33 off three overs on a cool, clear winter afternoon in the Zimbabwe capital, but the attack never wrested control from the Zimbabwe batsmen.
Zimbabwe: Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor(wk & c), Elton Chigumbura, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Craig Ervine, Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya, Kyle Jarvis, Chris Mpofu, Richard Muzhange
Bangladesh: Anamul Haque, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim(wk & c), Nasir Hossain, Mahmudullah, Ziaur Rahman, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abul Hasan, Elias Sunny, Abdur Razzak
