ZIM vs BAN Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! TIMBER! Blessing Muzarabani hammers the final nail in the coffin and with that, Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 32 runs, taking the lead in the series. This is much fuller, angling into the off stump. Nahid Rana makes room like he did in the last ball and swings his bat, but it is nowhere near the delivery. The ball beats the outside edge with a large gap and hits the off stump to uproot it from its place. Such a satisfying sight if you are a pace bowler.

Back of a length, shaping in, down the leg side. Nahid Rana makes room and attempts a pull shot, but it beats the top edge.

Nails the yorker now, angling into the leg side, Nahid Rana backs away and swings again but only connects with thin air.

Dug into the surface, on middle, Nahid Rana has a heave across the line and misses again.

Back of a length and around middle, Nahid Rana backs away to pull but misses.

OUT! TAKEN! Zimbabwe are just 1 wicket away from victory. Muzarabani bends his back and offers a good bouncer, over off, angling in. Nasum Ahmed opens his stance to pull it away, but connects with the top half of the bat. The ball flies toward square leg, where Tashinga Musekiwa pouches the catch safely into his palms.

FOUR! SHOT! Fuller in length, angling in, Taskin Ahmed drills it toward the left of the long on fielder for four runs.

OUT! CAUGHT! Make it four for Richard Ngarava. Can he get his fiver-fer with just one ball left in his spell? Back of a length, pitching on off and shaping inward. Mohammad Saifuddin lifts his front leg up and looks to pull it away, but the ball catches the top edge, before it loops and falls into the cusp of Milton Shumba, stationed in the deep fine leg region. Bangladesh are 134/8 now.

WIDE! Another slower one, going down the leg side, Mohammad Saifuddin misses out on his sweep.

Slower one, on a good length, outside off, Nasum Ahmed slaps it to deep cover for a single.

Yorker, on middle and leg, Mohammad Saifuddin jams it to square leg for one.

Bumper on middle, Nasum Ahmed pulls it awya to wide of bacward square leg for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! There comes the big wicket as Richard Ngarava has got the set batter. Zimbabwe will believe they are on top now. Short of a length, outside off. Yasir Ali hangs back and looks to lash it over the cover region, but the ball climbs up bigger than he expected. However, Yasir still goes through his shot but miscues it pretty badly. The ball loops toward cover and Brad Evans reverse-cups it before dropping on his back.

Short again, in the channel outside off, Mohammad Saifuddin tries to pull it across but fails to connect it yet again.

Short of a length, angling away from the batter. Mohammad Saifuddin swings and misses.

OUT! TAKEN! The dropped catch won't be hurting Zimbabwe much. Good-length delivery, outside off. Mahedi Hasan shuffles across and tries to loft it over mid off, but finds the connection from the outer part of his bat. The ball balloons toward the left of the mid on region, where Sikandar Raza keeps his calm and does the job neatly. Bangladesh are 130/6, chasing 171 runs.

FOUR! Oh my goodness. That should have been taken. Richard Ngarava is the guilty party. This is a good bouncer, on middle and leg. Mahedi Hasan hangs back and tries to pull but gets a top edge towards fine leg. Ngarava moves to his left but never really settles under it and does not even get a hand on it as the ball goes away into the ropes. That also brings up the 50-run stand between these two batters.

Short, slanting in, on middle and leg, Yasir Ali pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Single won't hurt Zimbabwe. They just need to avoid the boundaries. Back of a length, outside off, Mahedi Hasan arches back and steers it to deep third for a single.

Slower one now, angling down the leg side, Mahedi Hasan walks across and sweeps it to the left of the short fine leg fielder. Blessing Muzarabani does well to roll away and make a stop. Single taken.

WIDE! Bumper, but that goes over the helmet of the batter. Mahedi drops his stance.

FOUR! Whacks it away! Short of a length, around off. Mahedi Hasan steps out of his crease and hammers it over mid off for another boundary.

On a length, outside off, Mahedi misses his cut.

FOUR! Exceptional from Hasan! He has had a slow start, but this is exactly the time to go full throttle. Hard-length delivery, on of and middle. Mahedi Hasan shuffles across the stumps and ramps it over keeper for four runs.

Back of a length, on off and middle. Yasir Ali pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

That goes over the stumps! Just a yard behind the good length, angling in, around stumps. Yasir Ali comes down the track to heave it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Dragged back, on middle, Yasir Ali punches it down to long on for one more.

FIFTY FOR YASIR ALI! A superb knock under pressure and that after being out of the T20I team for a long time. Quicker, full and on middle, Ali clips it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Ali knows that the job is not done here.

SIX! Just over! Flighted, full and on middle, Yasir Ali gets down on one knee and plays the slog sweep. It flies towards deep square leg, where Brian Bennett tries his best to leap up and get hand on it but the ball sails over him for a biggie.

Fires this one, full and on leg, Mahedi Hasan fails to glance it away as the ball goes off his pads to short fine. Leg bye taken.

A bit short and around off, Yasir Ali punches it to sweeper cover fo a single.

Floated, full and on middle, Yasir Ali turns it to the leg side.

Quicker, short and on off, Yasir Ali waits for it and opens the bat face to steer it past short third. Blessing Muzarabani chases after it to stop it as the batters turn around for the third. The throw comes in at the keeper's end, where Tadiwanashe Marumani collects it but is not aware of his surroundings; otherwise, he could have thrown it at the other end, with Ali struggling a bit. Also, 100 is up for Bangladesh.

SIX! Short and punished! Ryan Burl bowls a half-tracker, around middle. Yasir Ali rocks back quickly and whacks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Slows it up, full and on off, turns away sharply again. Yasir Ali gets forward to block but the ball spins past the outside edge. Tadiwanashe Marumani collects and breaks the stumps but Ali never left his crease.

Short and outside off, Mahedi Hasan punches it to sweeper cover for a run.

Big turn! Ryan Burl flights it up, full and around off, grips and turns away sharply. Mahedi Hasan looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge. Tadiwanashe Marumani grabs it and appeals but turned down.

Tossed up, full and around off, Yasir Ali drags it wide of long on for a single.

Shorter in length again, on off, turns in sharply, Mahedi Hasan gets cramped up and clips it to short mid-wicket. Bangladesh need 80 runs in 42 balls now.

Flatter, shortish and on middle, Yasir Ali pats it down to long on for one.

Dragged back, on middle, Mahedi Hasan punches it down to long on for a run.

Flighted, full and on middle, Mahedi Hasan tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Floated, full and on off, Yasir Ali lofts it down to long off for a single.

FOUR! Top shot! Leg-spinner from Raza, drops it short and around off. Yasir Ali backs away a bit and muscles it over extra covers for a boundary.

Safe! Brad Evans hits the deck hard, on off, holds its line. Mahedi Hasan looks to work it across the line but gets a leading edge. It flies towards point, where Clive Madande dives to his left, but the ball just evades him. Two taken.

Good length and on off, Mahedi Hasan stays back and blocks it out.

Hard length and on off, Yasir Ali pats it in front of point and calls for one. Mahedi has to hurry but makes his ground.

Short of a length and on middle, Mahedi Hasan swivels and pulls it through square leg for a run.

Fuller and on middle, Mahedi Hasan tucks it to the left of short mid-wicket.

Back of a length and on middle, Yasir Ali heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Slows it up, full and on middle, Mahedi Hasan defends it on the front foot.

Flatter, full and on of, Yasir Ali tucks it through mid-wicket for one.

Short and around off, Yasir Ali punches it towards short cover, where Clive Madande does well to get his body behind the ball to stop it.

OUT! NURUL HASAN IS RUN OUT! Absolute disaster for Bangladesh. Sikandar Raza tosses it up, full and on middle, Hasan tucks it to the leg side and sets off for the run. Raza quickly moves to his right to get to the ball, turns around and puts in an underarm throw to hit the stumps at the bowler's end. Nurul is nowhere near the crease and there was never a run there. Bangladesh lose half their side now.

Short and outside off, Yasir Ali cuts it away to deep point for a run.

Floated, short and on off, turns away a bit, Nurul Hasan steers it away towards backward point for a single.

A touch fuller, around off, Nurul Hasan eases it to long off for another single.

Tossed up, on the fuller side, around off, Yasir Ali prods and pushes it to long off for a single.

Flat and much fuller, nearly a yorker, outside off. Nurul Hasan drives it to deep cover for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! A wicket that the Chevrons were desperately looking for here. This is on the fuller side, offering a bit of flight on the delivery. Towhid Hridoy gets down on one knee to slog sweep it, but he gets more height than distance. The ball balloons toward deep mid-wicket, which is also the bigger side of the boundary, and Tashinga Musekiwa does well to catch it safely. 98 runs needed off 63 balls now for Bangladesh.

Full, outside off, Yasir Ali drives it to deep cover for one.

Good length, on off, Yasir Ali defends it to the off side.

Full toss, outside off, Yasir Ali punches it to mid on.

On a nagging length, outside off, Yasir Ali turns it to the leg side with soft hands toward wide mid on. The long on fielder comes charging toward it and by the time he throws, the batter has completed the second run.

Good length, outside off, Towhid Hridoy nudges it to mid-wicket and gets a single.

TWO WIDES! Mayers drags his length back and sprays it down the leg side. Yasir Ali misses his pull and the keeper, who is standing close to the stumps, fails to glove it. The ball rolls toward deep fine leg and the batter gets a run.

Aiming the pads of the batter, fuller in length, Towhid Hridoy nudges it to mid-wicket and gets across.

Full, on off, Yasir Ali clips it to deep square leg for one.

SIX! BANG! Yasir Ali gives a warm greeting to Myers. Hits the deck hard to generate some bouncer off the deck, on off. Yasir Ali stands tall and pulls it over the deep square leg fence for half a dozen.

Another short of a length, over off. Yasir Ali miscues his pull to wide long on for a single. Bangladesh need 113 more runs off 72 balls.

Bumper, around off, Yasir Ali dabs it to cover.

WIDE! Bumper, but this one sails well over the batter. Yasir Ali looks to take it on, but pulling it, but fails to get the connection.

Short, on middle, Towhid Hridoy pulls it to the left of the deep square leg fielder for a single.

Uppish, but landed safely! A touch fuller, attacking the stumps, Towhid Hridoy attempts to slog it but fails to match the timing. The ball loops over the mid on fielder and the batter gets a brace.

Back of a length, outside off, Towhid Hridoy chops it to point.

Full-length delivery, just outside off, Yasir Ali nudges it to mid on for a single.

Good length, outside off, Towhid Hridoy cuts it between backward point and short third to get a couple of runs.

On a nagging length, around off, Towhid Hridoy steers it to short third.

FOUR! CRACKED! Burl spills out a low full toss, outside off. Towhid Hridoy hangs back and slaps it toward deep cover. The fielder runs to his left and makes a slide, but the ball manages to escape under his elbow to get to the boundary rope. 50 up for Bangladesh.

Short, away off, Yasir Ali pushes it to long on for one.

Full, on off, Towhid Hridoy works it to the leg side for a quick single. The fine leg fielder sprints to his left and cuts it to a a single.

Starts with a shorter one, outside off, Yasir Ali cuts it to deep cover for one.

Back of a length, outside off, Towhid Hridoy looks to slap it away, but inner edges it to the right of the keeper on one bounce.

Just a yard behind the good length, slanting across. Yasir Ali opens the face of the bat, before pushing it through point for one.

Hard-length delivery, just outside off, Yasir Ali pats it to mid off for no runs.

On a nagging length, around off, Yasir Ali fends it to cover.

WIDE! Back of a length, spraying down the leg side, Yasir Ali lets it pass.

FOUR! Oh, classy shot from Yasir! Full-length delivery, angling it across the right-hander. Yasir Ali brings out his front foot, crouches a bit and lofts it beautifully over cover for four runs.

Pitches it up, around the pads of the batter, Towhid Hridoy flicks it to short fine leg. Blessing Muzarabani fumbles a bit and the batter gets the window to take the single.

Pitched up and on off, Towhid Hridoy flicks it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Fuller and on middle, Yasir Ali clips it towards mid-wicket for a single.

OUT! IN THE AIR...GONE! Blessing Muzarabani strikes now. He lands this on a good length and on middle, kicks up off the deck. Parvez Hossain Emon presents the full face of the bat and tries to loft it down the ground but the ball hits him high on the bat. He ends up mistiming it high in the air and Sikandar Raza at mid off moves back to take a fine catch. Bangladesh slip from 25/0 to 34/3.

Hits the deck hard, around off, angling away with extra bounce, Parvez Hossain Emon throws his bat at it but misses.

FOUR! Up and over! Back of a length and outside off again. Parvez Hossain Emon gets the chance to free his arms and slashes it over point for a boundary.

Short of a length and outside off, takes off a bit, Parvez Hossain Emon tries to cut it away but misses.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Richard Ngarava with the double strike. He puts in more effort on this one, bends his back and bowls a well-directed bouncer into the body of the batter. Tanzid Hasan tries to get inside the line and hook it away but the ball gets big on him and he gets cramped up as well. It catches the gloves of the batt and lobs up behind, where Tadiwanashe Marumani takes a dolly. Bangladesh lose both openers in the same over.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Pitched up but angling into the pads. Tanzid Hasan picks it off and whips it wide of short fine for a boundary.

On a length and on off, Parvez Hossain Emon guides it off the outer half of the bat through backward point for a single.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Richard Ngarava draws first blood. He bangs this into the pitch, just outside off. Saif Hassan stays back and tries to pull it away but this is not that short for the shot. He ends up getting an underedge behind, where Tadiwanashe Marumani dives forward to take a sharp catch, with the ball dying on him. Bangladesh are 25/1, chasing 171 runs.

Full again and around off, Saif Hassan picks it up and slogs it but does not get the timing right. It drops over the mid-wicket region and goes nowhere with the mid on fielder doing the mop-up job. Two taken.

Fuller one angling down the leg side, Tanzid Hasan misses his glance as the ball goes off his pads towards short fine. Leg bye taken. There is also a shout for LBW, but turned down.

Blessing Muzarabani sees the batter come down the track, bangs this into the pitch, on middle, gets some steep bounce. Saif Hassan swings wildly at it but only connects with thin air.

Dug into the surface, outside off, Saif Hassan shuffles across a long way to scoop it but misses. Tadiwanashe Marumani grabs it behind the stumps and appeals for it but nothing doing.

Good length and on middle, Saif Hassan tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Hits the deck hard, on off, Saif Hassan backs away and stabs it out to short cover.

Short of a length and around off, Tanzid Hasan upper cuts it to deep third for a single.

MISFIELD AND FOUR! Back of a length and outside off, Tanzid Hasan throws his hands at it but gets a bottom edge. The ball races towards the third man fence, where Dion Myers runs to his right and gets to the ball. He bends low to pick it up but lets it through his hands for a boundary.

Hard length and on off, Saif Hassan stays back and pats it in front of short cover. Good comeback from Ngarava after getting hit for a boundary early in the over.

On a length and on middle, Saif Hassan fends it to the leg side.

Touch fuller and on off, takes pace off, Saif Hassan looks to push it away but gets an outside edge on the bounce to short third. Saif sets off for the run but is sent back and the fielder anyway misses his shy at the batter's end.

Hard length and around off, Saif Hassan stabs it out towards short cover.

FOUR! Signs of aggression! Back of a length and on middle. Saif Hassan uses his feet but stays leg side of the ball to free his arms. Crunches it over point for a cracking boundary.

Richard Ngarava begins with a good-length delivery, on off, nips back in, Saif Hassan steers it away to point.

Slows it up, full and on off, Saif Hassan tucks it through mid-wicket for one. 13 runs off the first over!

FOUR! Gets it away! Flighted, full and around off, Saif Hassan backs away a bit, uses the pace and steers it to the right of short third. Blessing Muzarabani has no chance this time as the ball races to the fence for a boundary.

Fires this one, full and around off, Tanzid Hasan looks to drive it away but gets an inside edge past the stumps. Blessing Muzarabani from short fine runs after it and manages to stop it just in time. Three taken.

FOUR! Gets off the mark in style! Flatter, a bit too full and on middle. Tanzid Hasan gets right underneath it and thumps it past the bowler for the first boundary for the chase.

Floated, short and on off, turns away a bit, Tanzid Hasan stays back and punches it to short cover.

Sikandar Raza starts with a shorter delivery, on leg, Saif Hassan flicks it off the back foot through mid-wicket for a single. Bangladesh are up and running in the chase!