Malcolm Waller stars as Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh to keep series alive

Malcolm Waller smashed 49 off 23 balls to lead Zimbabwe to their first win in their Twenty20 international series with Bangladesh in Khulna.

Waller hit four sixes and two fours in a brutal 33-minute innings as Zimbabwe reduced their opponents' lead in the four-match series to 2-1 with a 31-run triumph on Wednesday.

Vusi Sibanda also made 44 off 33 balls as Zimbabwe, batting first, reached 187 for six, with Shakib Al Hasan, who did for both Waller and Sibanda, the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 32.

Graeme Cremer's three for 18 then restricted Bangladesh to 156 for six, despite the best efforts of Sabbir Rahman, who made 50 off 32 balls, and Nurul Hasan, who contributed 30 off 17.

"I think in the last few days we had games that we probably should have won and didn't quite get over the line," said Waller.

"To do that today, the boys are really happy. The next game is very important [with the series now] being 2-1, we are going to come to the ground and try exactly what we did today." 

Zimbabwe will look to level the series in the fourth and final match at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna, on Friday.