Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe’s cricket team (Chevrons) lost their first T20 match to hosts, Bangladesh by eight wickets yesterday.

Wicketkeeper Clive Madande and bowler Wellington Masakadza rotated the strike regularly as they romped to a 75-run eighth-wicket partnership.

The 75 runs added by the pair was Zimbabwe’s highest partnership for the eighth wicket in T20Is and nearly matched the all-time record of 80.

The knock propelled the Chevrons to 124 runs, but that was not enough for victory.

Rain interrupted the chase twice, but debutant Tanzid Hasan remained unbeaten, steering his team to victory in just 15.2 overs with 67 off 47 balls.

Zimbabwe’s 124 was their lowest total against Bangladesh – the previous low was 131 in 2015 – but it could have been lower after they slipped to 41 for 7 before Masakadza and Madande got together.

Taskin Ahmed and the returning Mohammad Saifuddin took three wickets each, while Mahedi Hasan bowled economically for his two scalps.

The second T20 in the five-match series I set for this Sunday.

Zbc News