Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh: Hosts Secure Vital 23-Run T20 Win in Harare to Level Series

Zimbabwe Bounce Back with Convincing Win Against Bangladesh

No one expected such a twist in Harare after the drubbing Zimbabwe took in the first T20I, but Friday’s match flipped the narrative. Zimbabwe hosted Bangladesh for the second game of their three-match T20I series, and this time, the atmosphere buzzed with both anticipation and nerves after the home side won the toss and chose to bat.

The opening overs saw Zimbabwe in a spot of bother. Wickets had tumbled early in their previous matches, raising familiar alarm bells. But Wesley Madhevere had other ideas. Gritting his teeth, the young right-hander launched a forceful counterattack. His innings—73 off just 57 balls—mixed sharp placement with moments of pure invention; boundaries arrived just as fielders tried to apply the brakes. Madhevere’s knock anchored Zimbabwe through wobbly stretches, but it wasn’t a one-man show for long.

As Bangladesh’s bowlers turned the screws, the middle order faced a tough squeeze. Yet Ryan Burl stepped up right when Zimbabwe needed it most, piecing together a stubborn 34* not out. Burl’s late-over composure took the hosts from a shaky middle phase to a competitive final score. With just six wickets lost, Zimbabwe finished at 166, a total that looked within reach on a good Harare wicket but would require discipline to defend.

From the Bangladesh side, left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam stood out. He picked up three wickets for 33, using clever angles and sharp Yorkers, keeping Zimbabwe in check even as runs leaked from the other end. But even his efforts couldn't put a lid on the Zimbabwean total entirely.

Bangladesh Falter Under Pressure in Run Chase

With a modest target set, Bangladesh needed a brisk—yet steady—start. But their innings never really found rhythm. Zimbabwe’s bowlers came out firing. Wellington Masakadza's left-arm spin left Bangladesh’s batters second-guessing their shots. He snapped up three wickets for just 20 runs, two of which came during a tense middle phase where Bangladesh had to rebuild but found no answers. Every time a partnership looked set to blossom, a wicket fell at the wrong moment.

Masakadza’s patient bowling worked perfectly alongside the unpredictable pace of Luke Jongwe. Jongwe, too, nabbed three wickets, going for 31, unsettling the visitors with subtle changes of pace and angles. The pressure snowballed. Panic set in: singles dried up, and dot balls piled on. Lower-order Bangladesh batters swung hard but found only fielders or thin air.

• Bangladesh lost all ten wickets for 143, falling 23 runs short.
• Zimbabwe’s bowlers never let Bangladesh’s run rate climb above 8.
• Key middle-order wickets fell to untidy shots as Zimbabwe tightened their grip.

Bangladesh had walked into Harare as favorites after a confident win in the first match, but the tables turned as the home crowd sensed an upset. Every Zimbabwe wicket was celebrated as if it was the last; there was relief, then joy, among both players and fans. The win wasn’t just about the series—it was proof that Zimbabwe, a team often written off on the big stage, can stand firm when it truly matters.

With the series tied at 1-1, all eyes shifted to the deciding game. And while Bangladesh would go on to clinch the series in the third T20I, this match in Harare gave fans a reminder: don’t count Zimbabwe out, especially when playing at home.