December 20, 2024, will go down as a memorable day in Bangladesh cricket history as the Tigers pulled off a record-breaking run chase to defeat Zimbabwe in the third and final T20I at Harare Sports Club. Chasing a mammoth target of 237 runs, Bangladesh achieved the feat with one ball to spare, securing the series 2-1 and providing a thrilling conclusion to a closely contested series.
Zimbabwe had set an imposing total of 236/5 after winning the toss and electing to bat. Their innings was powered by an explosive 108 off 54 balls from Sikandar Raza, who smashed the Bangladeshi bowlers to all parts of the ground. Raza was well-supported by Sean Williams, whose quick-fire 62 off 32 balls added to the misery of the visitors. The pitch at Harare proved to be a batter’s paradise, offering little for the bowlers, who struggled to find any semblance of control.
Faced with a daunting chase, Bangladesh’s openers Litton Das and Rony Talukdar provided a blazing start, adding 84 runs in just 7 overs. Litton’s 41 off 20 balls included four sixes, while Talukdar’s aggressive 52 off 30 balls set the tone for the rest of the innings. Despite losing both openers in quick succession, Bangladesh maintained their aggressive approach, with captain Shakib Al Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto taking charge of the chase.
Shakib, in particular, played one of the finest innings of his T20 career. His unbeaten 89 off 38 balls included 7 fours and 6 sixes, showcasing his ability to stay calm under pressure and find boundaries at crucial moments. Shanto, who contributed a valuable 45 off 25 balls, rotated the strike effectively and allowed Shakib to take the lead in the partnership.
The turning point came in the 18th over when Bangladesh required 38 runs off 18 balls. Shakib took on Zimbabwe’s premier bowler, Blessing Muzarabani, hitting three consecutive boundaries to bring the equation down to a manageable 20 off 12 balls. Despite some tight bowling from the Zimbabwean pacers in the penultimate over, Shakib finished the game in style, hitting a six over long-off on the penultimate delivery to seal the win.