Bangladesh seal Test series 3-0 against Zimbabwe

Bangladesh have swept the three-match Test series against Zimbabwe 3-0 to register their first ever three-match series win.

The tourists were bowled out for 262 while chasing Bangladesh’s massive 448.

The hosts won the match by 186 runs as Zimbabwe lost their last three wickets within 12 deliveries on the fifth day.

When the last Zimbabwe batsman, Natsai M’shangwe, was signalled out by umpire Aleem Dar after a review, the Chittagong crowd went into raptures with relief and joy over the performance of the Tigers they had long waited to see.

The historic series victory was ensured earlier when the Tigers won the Tests in Dhaka and Khulna by three wickets and 162 runs respectively. They’ve also won three consecutive Tests for the first time.

Zimbabwe started Day Five on 71 for one. The hosts folded up the Africans’ innings within two sessions.

Opener Sikandar Raza reached his fifty to become first Zimbabwe opener to hit fifties in both innings of a Test since 2001.

But his 93-run resistance with Hamilton Masakadza’s (38) was broken by Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury when the Hamilton gloved a reverse sweep into the hands of Mushfiqur Rahim. Couple of overs later Chowdhury bagged the scalp of Raza (65).

Regis Chakabva, in at five, and Brendan Taylor got going but leg-spinner Jubair Hossain spun in two breaks sending back the captain (24) and all-rounder Elton Chigumbura (5) before lunch. The Africans were reduced to 179 for five.

Another recovery attempt lasting 13.1 overs by Chakabva and Craig Ervine (16) was cut short after the break when the latter was trapped leg-before by Mahmudullah. Richmond Mutumbami (2) soon joined Ervine in the pavilion.

With Chakabva fighting alone at one end Tinashe Panyangara held the other tight as the visitors faced a battle for survival. But it was only a matter of time before Panyangara (2) fell.

When the second new ball was taken, Rubel Hossain dismissed Panyangara to trigger a collapse.

Shafiul Islam, who bowled the next over - the last before tea - grabbed the remaining two wickets of Shingi Masakadza and Natsai M’shangwe to spark a spectator euphoria leaving Chakabva (89 not out) unsung at the other end.

Shafiul, Rubel, Jubair, Shuvagata bagged two wickets each, while Taijul and Mahmudullah picked up one each.

Mominul Haque was adjudged Man of the Match.

"Feels good when you get runs… Tamim (Iqbal) got hundred, Imrul (Kayes) got hundred as well. Jubair (Hossain) did well as well and we're going in the right direction," he said at the presentation ceremony.

Shakib Al Hasan was presented with the Man of the Series award.

“We did our basics right and that was key. We never thought we would win 3-0 but we knew if we stuck to our plans and executed them, we would win some games. It will lift our team now,” the allrounder said.

Mushfiq was overjoyed with his team’s performance.

"Great feeling. The team really performed well and I am really happy… we executed our plans (well). In this year, we have not been performing well. But the guys have stuck to their plans. Before the World Cup there is a couple of ODI matches and hopefully we can carry the momentum," the Tigers’ captain said.