Mahmudullah guides Bangladesh to final

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: Mahmudullah struck a quick-fire half-century as Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 39 runs to qualify for the final of their Twenty20 tri-series in Chittagong on Wednesday. The hosts will face Afghanistan in the final on Tuesday in Dhaka, while Zimbabwe will finish their campaign against the same opponents on Friday. Riding on Mahmudullah’s 62 off 41 balls, Bangladesh posted 175-7 — the side’s highest total against Zimbabwe in Twenty20s — before pacer Shafiul Islam and debutant leg-spinner Aminul Islam shared five wickets to bowl out Zimbabwe for 136. Shafiul, playing his first Twenty20 international in nearly two years, claimed 3-36 while teenager Aminul also impressed, taking 2-18. Mustafizur Rahman also took two wickets in the final over to finish with 2-38 as Bangladesh condemned Zimbabwe to their third consecutive defeat in the tournament, ending their chances of playing in the final. Bangladesh took the upper hand in the game when Mohammad Saifuddin and Shakib Al Hasan struck in the first two overs before Shafiul reduced Zimbabwe to 8-3. Zimbabwe soon slumped to 66-7, a position from where they could never recover despite some late blows by Richmond Mutumbami and Kyle Jarvis. Mutumbami hit 54 off 32 balls, his maiden Twenty20 international fifty, with four fours and three sixes, while Jarvis added 27 off 20 balls, but they could never put Bangladesh under pressure. Mahmudullah earlier led Bangladesh’s batting charge with his fourth Twenty20 fifty, which featured one four and five sixes. Sent into bat first, opener Liton Das made 38 off 22 and put on 49 runs with debutant Najmul Hossain to give Bangladesh a positive start. “We started well with the bat but couldn’t finish the innings the way we wanted. That’s an area we can improve. Bowlers backed it up brilliantly,” said Bangladesh skipper Shakib. — AFP Scoreboard Bangladesh Najmul Hossain c & b Jarvis 11 Liton Das c Madziva b Mpofu 38 Shakib Al Hasan c Williams b Burl 10 Mushfiqur c Taylor b Mutombodzi 32 Mahmudullah c Williams b Jarvis 62 Afif Hossain c Taylor b Mpofu 7 Mosaddek Hossain c Chakabva b Jarvis 2 Mohammad Saifuddin not out 6 Aminul Islam not out 0 Extras: (lb3, w4) 7 Total: (seven wickets; 20 overs) 175 Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-55, 3-65, 4-143, 5-159, 6-169, 7-169 Bowling: Ndlovu 3-0-32-0, Jarvis 4-0-32-3, Mpofu 4-0-42-2, Williams 4-0-26-0, Burl 1-0-13-1 , Mutombodzi 3-0-17-1, Madziva 1-0-10-0 Zimbabwe Taylor c Shakib b Saifuddin 0 Hamilton Masakadza b Aminul 25 Regis Chakabva b Shakib 0 Sean Williams c Afif b Shafiul 2 Tinotenda c Najmul b Aminul 11 Ryan Burl b Shafiul 1 Richmond c Saifuddin b Shafiul 54 Neville Madziva run out 9 Kyle Jarvis c Sub b Mustafizur 27 Ainsley Ndlovu b Mustafizur 2 Chris Mpofu not out 0 Extras: (b1, lb1 w3) 5 Total: ( all out; 20 overs) 136 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-8, 4-35, 5-37, 6-44, 7-66, 8-124, 9-136 Bowling: Saifuddin 4-0-14-1, Shakib 4-0-28-1, Shafiul 4-0-36-3, Mustafizur 4-0-38-2, 4-0-18-2