ZIM vs BAN 2nd T20I Commentary - Harare (23 July 2021)

A slower one, full and wide outside off, the batter leaves it and it's called a wide.

FOUR! Short in length and outside off, Mohammad Saifuddin flashes his bat at it and edges it down to third man for a boundary..

OUT! Number 9 goes down. Back of a length delivery outside off, Saifuddin winds up for a big shot down the ground but gets a top edge. Sikandar Raza settles under it at mid off and takes the catch safely.

SAFE! Too full in length and on middle, Taskin forces it down to wide long on and rushes back for the second run. The throw comes to the keeper who collects it ahead of the stumps before taking the bails off. They appeal, it's referred upstairs. Taskin has not dragged his bat, instead, he has plonked it inside the crease. Touch and go and the third umpire rules it in the favour of the batsman.

Short and wide outside off, off pace, Taskin tries to slog across the line but misses.

OUT! The final wicket goes down! ZIMBABWE WIN BY 23 RUNS! Short delivery again, wide outside off, Taskin tries to heave it over the leg side but it takes the toe end of his bat and flies straight to Wellington Masakadza at wide long on. He makes no mistake and Zimbabwe are celebrating.

Length ball, outside off. Taskin Ahmed swings hard but misses.

Good length ball, cramped him for room. The ball kisses the pads and goes through to the keeper.

Good length ball, on off. Blocked towards cover for a single.

Slower full ball, on the stumps. Mohammad Saifuddin looks to heave it on the leg side but gets the bottom half of the bat and the ball goes to deep square leg. Two runs.

Swing and a miss! Mohammad Saifuddin comes down the track and looks to pull hard but misses.

Slower ball on length, Mohammad Saifuddin carves this one to the deep point fielder for an easy single.

Wide! Sprays a length ball way wide outside off, Afif allows it through.

OUT! Here goes Bangladesh's last hope! Fractionally short in length and on middle, Afif turns and powers it over square leg. Seems like a great connection again but it's straight down the throat of Shumba in the deep. 40 needed off 17 balls.

Short and on middle, Taskin pulls and intentionally keeps it down in front of square leg for a run.

Back of a length ball on middle, Saifudding pulls it firmly to deep square leg. A good stop in the deep but still the batsmen take two.

A low dipping full toss on middle, Saifuddin makes room as he dances down the track, hits it from the toe end of the bat to extra cover.

Dramatic. Is there some ghost? Back of a length ball on middle, Saifuddin smashes it from the back foot to wide long on for a run. There is slight noise of bails coming off and the keeper is seen appealing. The umpire wants to check for the hit wicket but the replays find that the stumps moved on their own. Wind? Maybe. Bizarre. 

Digs in a short ball on middle, Taskin is on his toes as he pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 35 needed off 12 balls.

Good length ball, around off. Mohammad Saifuddin heaves it towards the deep mid-wicket fielder for one.

Back of a length ball, on the pads. Tucked towards square leg for one.

Slower ball, outside off. Mohammad Saifuddin comes down the track and tries to heave but misses.

Back of a length slower ball, on off. Mohammad Saifuddin looks to slog it over the on side but gets an under-edge. It rolls to short third man and they cross. 

FOUR! Low full toss, on off. Afif Hossain shuffles across and scoops it over the short fine leg fielder for a much-needed boundary.

Slower full ball, outside off. Afif Hossain squeezes it towards sweeper cover for a run. 8 from the over!

OUT! Shamim holes out! Smart bowling from Luke Jongwe. He bowls it on a length but keeps it wide outside off, Shamim has to fetch it from there as he tries to smoke it over long on. Fails to gather enough power and it's a simple catch for Wellington Masakadza in the deep. Shamim looked impressive during his stay, a good try from the youngster! 

Fuller in length and on off, driven to covers for a single.

IN THE AIR... SAFE! Luke digs in a short ball around off, the bounce gets big on the batsman as Afif shapes up for the pull shot. He gets a top edge and it flies towards deep square leg. Tendai Chatara runs across to his right from short fine leg but has a fielder coming across from deep mid-wicket as well. That probably put him off and he fails to catch it with a dive. The batsmen take one.

SIX! High and handsome! Fuller in length and on middle, Saifuddin makes room and launches it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Back of a length ball on middle, cramping the batsman for room, MS defends it back from the crease.

In the channel outside off, Mohammad Saifuddin flashes and misses. The keeper deflects it to short third man and the batsmen take a bye. 49 needed off 24 balls.

Flatter ball, outside off. Afif Hossain looks to reverse paddle sweep it but misses.

Quicker ball, on the stumps. Tucked towards the leg side for a single.

SIX! Flatter ball, on the stumps. Shamim Hossain makes room and smashes this over the long off fielder for a maximum.

FOUR! It's quicker and flatter, on middle, Shamim gets down on one knee and sweeps it fine for a boundary. Shamim showing his class on debut!

FOUR! This time Shamim Hossain brings out the reverse sweep and places it fine, away from short third man for a boundary.

Tossed up, on off. Shamim Hossain advances down the track and tucks it towards the on side for one. Sensible stuff so far this from the batter.

Short in length and outside off, cut through point for a single.

SIX! That's gone the distance! Fuller in length and on middle and leg, Shamim kneels down and slog sweeps it clinically over backward square leg for a biggie.

Turns a shortish ball to mid-wicket, puts pressure on the deep fielder and that results in a misfield. Two runs taken.

Shortish and outside off, Shamim steers it through point for a run.

Flatter and shorter outside off, staying low, Afif tries to cut but misses.

Attempts for a reverse sweep but misses and is hit outside the line of the stumps. The ball ricochets to point and they take a leg bye. 10 from the over,74 needed off 36 balls.

Flatter ball on stumps, pulled towards deep square leg for a couple.

SIX! Tossed up outside off. Afif Hossain gets down on one knee and sweeps this fine over the deep square leg fence for a maximum. Much needed this for Bangladesh.

Tossed up, on off. Driven towards long off for a single.

Flatter ball, on off. Blocked back to the bowler.

Tossed up, on middle. Shamim Hossain looks to reverse sweep but gets an under-edge and the ball rolls away to the off side.

Flatter ball, on the stumps. Tucked on the leg side for a single.

FOUR! In the air but it's a safe shot. Fuller in length and outside off, slower in pace, Nurul walks across the stumps, picks it up and swings it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

OUT! Caught in the deep! Yet another reckless shot selection and Bangladesh lose their 6th wicket. Chatara senses the charge from the batsman early and digs in a short ball outside off, Nurul is down the track and then jumps to whack it over covers. He makes a good connection but it's towards the longer part of the ground and Wellington Masakadza grabs it easily in the deep. Bangladesh making it hard for themselves by playing some avoidable shots.

A touch short and outside off, Afif plays it late and taps it down to short third man.

Short in length and outside off, Hossain hits it firmly through the line but finds the cover fielder.

Fuller and on middle, heaved to deep mid-wicket for a single.

LUCKY FOUR! Back of a length ball on middle and off, some extra bounce, Shamim tries to defend from the back foot but it takes the inside edge and runs away to the fine leg fence. The debutant opens his account with a lucky boundary.

Flatter ball, outside off. Afif Hossain looks to heave it over the on side but misses.

Quicker ball, on the stumps. Tucked towards the on side for one.

Tossed up outside off. Nurul Hasan comes down the track and flicks this through mid-wicket for one.

Flatter ball, outside leg. Afif Hossain shuffles across and tries to pull it hard but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Flatter ball, clipped through mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter ball darted outside off. Nurul Hasan punches this off the back foot for one.

Sliding down the leg side, flicked to mid-wicket for a run.

That is punched off the back foot, but not in the gap at covers.

Appeal for an lbw, not given. Floated one, full and around leg, Hasan tries to flick but misses.

Another cross-batted heave, it's smashed aerially but wide of mid-wicket. A single results.

Wide! Way wide outside off, left alone.

Tossed up ball on middle, helped to mid-wicket for a single.

Appeal for a run out! Full and around off, Nurul clips it in front of square leg and attempts for the second run. There is a direct hit at the bowler's end and they appeal. It's referred upstairs but Afif is found to be safely in. 60/5 at the halfway stage, 107 needed more with 5 wickets left.

OUT! CAUGHT! Huge wicket, this. Tossed up, on off. Mahmudullah gets down on one knee and looks to slog it over long on. He is beaten slightly in flight and fails to middle it properly. The ball goes high up in the air and Tarisai Musakanda, the substitute fielder, times his jump to perfection and plucks it superbly near the fence. Bangladesh slip further.

Tossed up, on leg. Afif Hossain looks to sweep but misses.

Tossed up, on middle. Driven towards long off for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! Flatter ball, on the stumps. Mahedi Hasan advances down the track and looks to go over long off. Gets it away from the toe end of the bat and the ball goes high in the air and straight into the bucket hands of Ryan Burl. Bangladesh are in deep trouble here.

Quicker ball, on the stumps. Tucked towards the on side.

Flatter ball, on off. Punched towards long off for one. What an over again by Wellington Masakadza, 2 runs and 2 wickets off it. His figures currently are 2-0-6-3!

A touch short and outside off, Mahmudullah steers it from the back foot, finds point.

Wide! Sliding down the leg side, there is no need to play at it.

Pitches it up and outside off, Mahmudullah leans forward and wrists it through mid-wicket for a run.

Back of a length ball on off, Mahedi moves back and works it gently towards mid-wicket. He runs the first run hard, wants the second but it's not on as Ryan Burl is quick to the ball. He though fumbles slightly, there is no extra run available.

Uses the angle of the bowler and flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Fuller and outside off, driven towards the fielder at the edge of the circle at extra cover. They take a single.

Slower one, on a fuller length outside off, Mahmudullah pushes it firmly to point where Raza makes a fine stop. Cannot prevent the single. 6 from it!

Tossed up on middle. Mahedi Hasan inside edges the off drive towards long on for one.

Flatter ball, on the stumps. Punched towards cover off the back foot.

Tossed up, on off. Shakib Al Hasan slog sweeps this towards deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

OUT! CAUGHT! Tossed up, on the stumps. Shakib Al Hasan comes down the track and looks to lift it over the extra cover fielder. The bat turns in his hands and he fails to middle it. The ball goes straight to Sikandar Raza who takes another catch inside the ring. The replays later suggest that it was smart bowling by Wellington Masakadza as he saw the charge from the batsman and shortened his length. Shakib though still went ahead with his shot and fell. Zimbabwe are on top!

Flatter ball, on off. Mahmudullah steps down and pushes it on the off side to get off the mark.

Tossed up, on the stumps. Mahedi Hasan makes room on the leg side and tries to cut hard but misses it.

FOUR! Shakin has nailed it. The ball is a touch fuller, width offered and the Bangla superstar smashes it past the extra cover fielder for a boundary.

Jongwe goes short and around off, this time Shakib pulls it through square leg and rotates the strike.

Gets behind the line of the delivery and blocks it towards mid on.

Play and a miss! Change in pace from Luke, bowls it slow and lands it full outside off, Mahedi flashes and misses.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Jongwe delivers a length ball on middle and leg, Mahedi gets across a bit and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary. You don't bowl there to the batsmen from the subcontinent.

Digs in a short ball on off, pulled to deep square leg for a run. 10 from the over and Bangladesh are 42/2. Zimbabwe were 48/2 at this stage.

Length ball, on the pads. Flicked towards square leg for one.

 Good length ball, around off. Tapped towards point.

FOUR! Shakib Al Hasan shuffles across and scoops this over the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

Short ball, around middle. Shakib Al Hasan pulls it awkwardly towards long on.

Good length ball, around off. Defended solidly towards the off side.

Good length ball, outside off. Angled in slightly and kept a bit low. Mahedi Hasan misses the shot on the off side. The ball goes through to the keeper on a bounce.

That is defended solidly off the front foot.

On a length and outside off, Mahedi pushes at it and misses.

Play and a miss! Width given outside off, Mahedi throws his bat at it but fails to connect.

FOUR! Width given again and this time Mahedi cashed in. Short in length and outside off, Mahedi whacks it over backward point for a boundary.

FOUR LEG BYES! Slower one, full and drifting down the leg side, Hasan tries to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to the keeper and Tadiwanashe Marumani lets it through. Bonus runs.

A couple of direct hits but Zimbabwe have not been lucky to pick another wicket. Short in length and outside off, Mahedi cuts it to point and there is confusion over a run. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end and finds the stumps but Shakib is in safely. It deflects to mid off and now the batsmen cross. The fielder again scores a direct hit, this time at the keeper's end but Shakib is safely in once more. It's all happening.

OUT! Dragged on! Good length ball angling away with extra bounce, around off stump. Mohammad Naim stays back and looks to run it down towards third man but gets an inside edge and the ball crashes onto the middle stump. Blessing is over the moon and flexes his biceps in celebration.

Good length ball, on the pads. Tucked towards mid on for a single. Mahedi Hasan is off the mark.

In the air...but it falls in no man's land. Full ball, on the stumps. Soumya Sarkar looks to heave it over mid on. Gets it away off the bottom of the bat and the ball goes high up in the air behind the bowler. It falls just in front of the fielder who was running backwards from mid on. He saves it from going to the boundary and they take two.

OUT! CAUGHT! Wicket number 2 goes down in the over and Blessing has done the early damage. Both the in-form openers are back in the pavilion. Short and around off, Soumya Sarkar stands back and blazes it through the line. That's hit hard, like a tracer bullet and it's travelling. Sikandar Raza though is ready at the edge of the circle at extra cover to snap it. Zimbabwe are pumped up!

Good length ball, outside off. Shakib Al Hasan shuffles across and tries to heave it on the leg side but misses.

Good length ball, on middle. Shakib Al Hasan shuffles across again and this time he tries to scoop it over the keeper but misses this one as well. The ball goes through to the keeper. Excellent over this for Zimbabwe.

Back of a length delivery outside off, Naim tries to push it to the off side from the back foot but it takes the inner half and rolls back to the bowler.

Shortish and close to off, Naim hangs back and punches it down the ground, finds mid off.

FOUR! That's nicely played! A little bit of width outside off, Naim just opens the face of his blade and glides it past the backward point fielder for a boundary.

Slower one this time, deceiving the batsman, it's around middle and leg, Naim is early into the shot and misses. The ball goes off the thigh pad to point and they cross. The fielder aims at the stumps at the bowler's end but misses. No one backing up the throw and the batsmen get another run. Two leg byes.

Ouch, that can knock the wind out of you! That's a sharp delivery, short and on middle, Naim tries to pull but is beaten. He is hit near the rib cage and goes down on his haunches in pain. He catches his breath and then gets back to face the next ball.

Poor from the stand-in keeper. Slower one, on a length and wide outside off, Naim flashes and misses. Tadiwanashe Marumani also fails to collect the ball and a bye has been taken.

Flatter ball, on stumps. Punched towards mid on for one. The bowler got a hand on it, showed the replays.

Flatter hall, on off. Turned towards on side off the back foot.

Uppish but safe! Arm ball from Sikandar Raza. Soumya Sarkar advances down the track and smashes it just short of the diving mid off fielder. Luke Jongwe goes for the catch but it drops safe and the fielder seems to have hurt his fingers. The ball gets deflected behind and the batters take two.

Follows the batsman down the leg side with a short ball, Sarkar mistimes his punch to covers.

FOUR! Short in length and in the line of the stumps, Sarkar goes deep inside the crease and cracks it through the gap at point.

Flatter ball, on the stumps. Tucked towards the on side.