Fatullah (BANGLADESH): Shamsur Rahman led Bangladesh to a stunning victory over New Zealand on Saturday, completing a 3-0 sweep of the one-day international series.
Shamsur’s 96 rocketed the home side to 309-6, steaming past New Zealand’s 307 with four balls and four wickets to spare at the packed Khan Shaheb Osman Ali stadium at Fatullah, just outside Dhaka.
The 25-year-old opener hit seven fours and four sixes in his 107-ball knock as Bangladesh successfully chased down a 300-plus total for only the second time in their playing history.
Shamsur, playing only his second one-day international, fell short of what would have been a well- deserved century when his attempted drive off a Corey Anderson delivery became an edge and flew to wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi.
Naeem Islam continued to lead the charge after Shamsur’s departure before he was run out for 63 after facing 74 balls.
Nasir Hossain (44 not out) stayed till the end to ensure Bangladesh never lost their way in the chase on the batting-friendly pitch.
Earlier, Ross Taylor hit his eighth one-day century as New Zealand posted their highest total in the series.
The visitors were desperate to avoid another humiliating whitewash, after their previous one-day series against Bangladesh.
Taylor, who was part of the New Zealand squad that lost 4-0 to Bangladesh in 2010, remained unbeaten on 107 while Colin Munro made 85 to give the tourists a fighting chance of victory.
The pair put on 130 for the fourth wicket after Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and elected to bowl at the Fatullah ground, which was hosting its first international match for seven years.
Former captain Taylor made the most of his chances after Rubel Hossain dropped him off his own bowling on 12, hitting nine fours and three sixes in his 93-ball innings.
Anton Devcich (46) and Tom Latham (43) gave New Zealand a decent start with a 66-run opening stand.
But Bangladesh struck back soon afterwards through their spinners to reduce the visitors to 101-3.
Munro, playing his first match in the series, led the initial charge to complete his fifty before he fell to off-spinner Mahmudullah.
Taylor was initially sedate but accelerated after reaching his fifty off 69 deliveries. His three sixes came in consecutive deliveries off a Sohag Gazi over as New Zealand added 73 in the last five overs to cross the 300-run mark. The two teams will now play a Twenty20 International on November 6 in Dhaka before New Zealand fly to Sri Lanka for an ODI and Twenty20 series. (AFP)
Brief scores:
NZ: 307/5, 50 overs (R Taylor 107*, C Munro 85; Mahmudullah 2-36)
Ban: 309/6, 49.2 overs (S Rahman 96, N Islam 63; M McClenaghan 2-69)