Bennett announces himself, Zimbabwe finally get over the line

Brian Bennett Zimbabwe Under19 ICC — Brian Bennett Zimbabwe Under19 PIC: ICC

Bangladesh 157/6 in 20 overs (Mahmudullah Riad 54, Najmul Hossain Shanto 36; Brian Bennmett 2-20, Blessing Muzarabani 2-22)

Zimbabwe 158/2 in 18.3 overs (Sikandar Raza 72*, Brian Bennett 70; Shakib Al Hasan 1-9, Mohammad Saifuddin 1-55)

Zimbabwe won by eight wickets

Brian Bennett announced himself with bat and ball as he spearheaded Zimbabwe to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the fifth and final T20 International on Sunday morning.

He replicated his two wickets for 20 runs, the same return he had in the first match before smacking 70 off 49 (five sixes, five fours) as Zimbabwe finally got over the line after coming so close in the two previous matches.

That was his maiden half century.

Zimbabwe bowled first having made one change. Sean Williams came in for Richard Ngarava.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim, a thorn in the flesh for Zimbabwe this series, was out for two, Blessing Muzarabani claiming the wicket.

Bennett grabbed the scalp of Soumya Sarkar six balls later and suddenly Bangladesh were nine for two. It quickly became 15 for the loss of three when Bennett took Towhid Hridoy’s wicket for one.

Mahmudullah Riad and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto did some repair work and added 69 to the total before the latter fell to Wellington Masakadza. He scored 36.

Shakib Al Hasan put 21 to the title before Luke Jongwe got him. Mahmudullah Riad departed soon after scoring 54 off the bowling 54.

Jaker ali Anik blasted 24 off 11 to set his side up with 157 for the loss of six.

Bennett took the lion’s share of the attack in the opening 38 run-partnership. Tadiwanahse Marumani was stumped for one.

Captain Sikandar Raza joined Bennett for an 85-run partnership. He scored 72 off 46. four sixes and six fours to take the side home with nine balls to spare.