Another meek batting display from Bangladesh saw them miss out on a clean sweep in their five-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe as they conceded an eight-wicket defeat at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.
The defeat meant the Tigers won the series 4-1.
Chasing 158, Zimbabwe went over the line comfortably with nine balls in hand courtesy of Brian Bennett鈥檚 maiden T20I fifty which ended on 70 off 49 balls and skipper Sikanadar Raza鈥檚 unbeaten 72 runs off 46 balls.聽
Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin each claimed one wicket while veteran Mahmudullah scored the highest for Bangladesh with 54 off 44 and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto chipped in with a 28-ball 36.
For the visitors, Blessing Muzarabani and Bennett claimed two wickets apiece.
Bangladesh were knocked out of the tie due to a 75-run stand between Raza and Bennett for the second wicket, despite losing Tadiwanashe Marumani for one early on.
Bennet raised his fifty off 36 balls, while his captain took 41 balls to reach the milestone, after which he went ballistic.
Put into bat first, Bangladesh wobbled early on as they lost Tanzid Hasan Tamim, (2), Soumya Sarkar (7), and Towhid Hridoy (1) with just 15 runs on board.
Mahmudullah and Shanto then combined for a 69-run partnership before Wellington Masakadza broke through to dismiss the latter.
Mahmudullah reached his fifty off 36 balls, and with contributions from Shakib (21) and Jaker Ali Anik (24*), Bangladesh ended on 157-6, a total that proved to be insufficient.