Burl blitz sets Tigers' target to 157 to win T20I series

Ryan Burl's quickfire 54 off 28 along with Luke Jongwe's 35-run cameo took Zimbabwe to 156/8 in the third T20I at Harare.  Bangladesh will need 157 runs to bag the T20I series.

It was an innings of two parts for Zimbabwe. 

After a decent opening start of 29, Zimbabwe collapsed as their star man and the one in form Sikandar Raza fell first ball.

Nasum Ahmed began the wicket fest by sending Regis Chakabva back to the pavilion.

The other offspinners - Mahedi Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and Mahmudullah Riyad - all chipped in with a wicket in the next few overs.

The middle order was blown away and they were reduced to 76/6 at the end of 14 overs. But then began the renaissance between Jongwe and Burl.

After changing his broken bat, Burl unleashed on Nasum - smashing him for 34 in one over, the closest one can come to achieving six 6s in an over, as the four in the over fell inches inside the ropes.

Jongwe too fed off Burl and smashed it big.

The 79-run partnership off 31 balls between Ryan Burl and Luke Jongwe has the all-time highest run rate for a T20I partnership (minimum 75 runs) for the 7th wicket and below. 

Bangladesh were left stunned by the onslaught but they managed to dismiss both the batters and made a good comeback in the last two overs - which just produced 10.

For Bangladesh, Mahedi Hasan and Hasan Mahmud bagged a brace while other bowlers took a wicket each.