Young sensation Afif Hossain struck 52 off 26 balls while Mosaddek Hossain made 30 not out as Bangladesh secured a three-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first match of the tri-nation Twenty20 series in Mirpur on Friday.
Afif, who batted at number eight, struck eight fours and a six for his maiden Twenty20 fifty and put up a 82-run stand for the seventh wicket with Mosaddek to take Bangladesh close to the win after Zimbabwe posted 144-5 in their stipulated 18 overs.
Afif was dismissed by pacer Neville Madziva in the second ball of the final over but Mohammad Saifuddin hit the bowler for a boundary in the fourth ball to ensure a last-over win for the Tigers.
Earlier, Rayan Burl struck an unbeaten 57 off 32 balls while Hamilton Masakadza and Tinotenda Mutombodzi made 34 and 27 not out as Zimbabwe posted 144-5 in stipulated 18 overs in a rain-curtailed Twenty20 match.
