Skipper Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza kept Zimbabwe's hopes alive in the World Twenty20 tournament Wednesday with a hard-fought five-wicket win over the Netherlands in Sylhet.
Zimbabwe cricketer Brendan Taylor (R) plays a shot as Ireland wicketkeeper Gary Wilson (L) looks on during the ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup cricket match between Zimbabwe and Ireland in Sylhet on March 17, 2014
Taylor hit a solid 39-ball 49 while Masakadza scored a 45-ball 43 to guide Zimbabwe past their 141-run target off the last ball.
When Taylor was dismissed after hitting two fours and a six, 15 runs were needed off the last 11 balls.
When the last over began, seven were still needed.
Sean Williams hit a lucky boundary and then ran himself out for 26 with the scores tied.
But Vusi Sibanda hit paceman Ahsan Malik for a huge six to give Zimbabwe victory.
The Netherlands, who won the toss and batted, were lifted from a precarious 19-3 to 140-5 by a fighting 58-ball 72 not out from Tom Cooper, including nine fours and a six.
Cooper added an invaluable 52 for the fifth wicket with brother Ben Cooper (20) after spinner Prosper Utseya (2-24) had dismissed opener Stefan Myburgh for a duck off the third ball of the innings.
The Netherlands won their opening match against the United Arab Emirates in Group B. They will now face Ireland on Friday to decide who goes through to the next round.
Wednesaday's win keeps Zimbabwe in the race after they lost their first match to Ireland. They face the UAE on Friday.
Bangladesh won both their games in Group A.
The top two teams from the preliminary rounds will join the eight seeded teams in the Super-10 stage starting March 21.
Brief scores:
Netherlands 140-5 in 20 overs (T. Cooper 72 not out, P. Utseya 2-24)
Zimbabwe 146-5 in 20 overs (B. Taylor 49, H. Masakadza 43; P. Seelaar 2-9)
Zimbabwe won by five wickets.