You could live for a thousand years and still not see anything like what unfolded in the final over of Bangladesh’s thrilling World Cup win over Zimbabwe.
Forget what had preceded it in an already dramatic final over from Tigers spinner Mosaddek Hossain, which had seen two wickets, an incredible swiped six from Zimbabwean tailender Richard Ngarava, and a supremely unlucky four leg byes off the same man’s shoulder.
Needing five to win and four to force a super over off the final ball, Blessing Muzarabani danced down the pitch, swung, missed, and was stumped by miles by Nurul Hasan. That appeared to be that.
But not at this World Cup, already shaping as the most dramatic edition of the short-form tournament ever. For in his haste to complete the stumping, the wicketkeeper had committed a rare infraction: he had taken the ball in front of the stumps.
As the two teams shook hands and left the field with everyone convinced the match was over, the third umpire continued to deliberate.
And to the shock of everyone at the Gabba and the delirium of the contingent of Zimbabwean fans, the mistake was confirmed: Zimbabwe would have one final chance to snatch the most remarkable of wins.
Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh celebrates running out Sean Williams of Zimbabwe. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
As it happened, the reprieve wouldn’t make a difference: Muzarabani would again fail to make contact off the re-bowled final ball, Nurul was more careful in where he collected the ball this time, and a three-run Tigers win was officially confirmed.
Earlier, Bangladesh opener Najmul Hossain Shanto (71 off 55 balls) had powered his team to 7-150 batting first.
A blistering spell by paceman Taskin Ahmed (3-19) also inspired the win that keeps their semi-final hopes alive.
It took a wonderful run out by skipper Shakib Al Hasan to get Bangladesh home in the end, after a superb fightback by Zimbabwe.
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Zimbabwe needed 82 off the final eight overs and veteran Sean Williams (62 off 42 ) and Ryan Burl (27 off 25) whittled that down to 19 off nine balls when Al Hasan ran out Williams with a turn and throw in one motion from his own bowling to seal the deal.
The win took Bangladesh to four points in Group Two but they are still to play India and Pakistan.
The loss was a dent to Zimbabwe’s finals chances and they remain on three points.
Ahmed’s haul made him the leading wicket-taker in the Super 12 segment of the tournament to date, with eight.
Earlier Shanto posted his highest international score in the format after suffering hamstring issues earlier in his innings.
Shanto lost his opening partner Soumya Sarkar in the second over but combined with Al Hasan (23) in a 54-run stand for the third wicket that ensured their bowlers had something to defend.
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