Bangladesh beats Zimbabwe in T20 clash

Bangladesh have gone one-nil up in their best-of-four Twenty20 series with Zimbabwe following a four-wicket win.

Bangladesh (pic) have gone up one-nil up in their best-of-four Twenty20 series with Zimbabwe. (AAP)

Bangladesh has made a winning start to 2016, cruising past Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first of their four Twenty20 internationals.

Zimbabwe rode a 101-run partnership between Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda, their highest opening stand in T20s, to pile up 7-163 on Friday.

Bangladesh eclipsed it, reaching 6-166 with eight balls to spare.

Masakadza smashed a fluent 79, equalling 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.