Bangladesh beats Zimbabwe by 4 wickets in first T20

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:51 a.m. ET

foxsports

KHULNA, Bangladesh (AP) Bangladesh made a winning start to 2016, cruising past Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first of their four Twenty20 internationals on Friday.

Zimbabwe rode a 101-run partnership between Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda, their highest opening stand in T20s, to pile up 163-7. Bangladesh eclipses it with 166-6 and eight balls to spare.

Masakadza smashed a fluent 79, equaling his highest score in this format, while Sibanda made 46.

They laid a strong platform, but Zimbabwe faltered near the end, losing five wickets for only 31 runs in the last five overs.

Fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Al-Amin Hossain claimed two wickets apiece.

For Bangladesh, Sabbir Rahman was the highest scorer with 46. Tamim Iqbal chipped-in-with 29.

Legspinner Graeme Cremer took 2-32.