Raza’s 62 pushes Zimbabwe to 135-8 after Mosaddek five-for in second T20

Mosaddek Hossain has put the Zimbabwe batting to the sword with a five-wicket haul as Sikandar Raza once again came to the rescue to haul Zimbabwe to a modest 135 for eight in the second T20 in Harare.

Skipper Craig Ervine opted to set Bangladesh, who are trailing the three-match series 0-1, a target after Saturday’s success. But Mosaddek’s 5/20 put paid to their hopes of getting a big score at the Harare Sporting Club on Sunday.

After replacing a disappointing Taskin Ahmed from the first game with Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan Sohan threw the ball to a wily Mosaddek to open the bowling and he did not disappoint, reports bdnews24.com.

The 26-year-old off-break bowler snared the wicket of Regis Chakabva with an arm ball off the first ball before deceiving Wesley Madhevere (4) with a slower one four deliveries later to land a double-strike.

Mosaddek fooled Ervine with a slower for an easy pouch in his second over and pitched one short to get the better of Sean Williams (8) in his third.

Milton Shumba (3) still went after the spinner and holed out at backward square leg as Mosaddek completed his career-best figures in his fourth over.

Raza (62) then rose to the occasion and stitched up much-needed 80 runs for the sixth wicket with Ryan Burl (32). With Mosaddek done with his quota, Bangladesh struggled to find a way through either batter for 65 deliveries.

Raza charmed the home crowd with four boundaries and two sixes but the run rate remained below a run-a-ball until the 14th over. But as the batsmen looked to flourish, Hasan Mahmud took out Burl before Mustafizur Rahman bagged the wicket of Raza in the space of four deliveries.

Luke Jongwe (11 not out) then pushed the team beyond 130.