Bangladesh whitewash Zimbabwe to take ODI series 5-0

Bangladesh have whitewashed Zimbabwe and completed a 5-0 clean sweep of the ODI series for a second time, winning the final match by five wickets in Dhaka.

Zimbabwe won the toss and sent the hosts to field at the Sher-e-Bangla Naitonal Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.

But Bangladesh spinners ran riot with new spinning sensation Taijul Islam becoming the first bowler to take a hat-trick on ODI debut.

Zimbabwe looked set to put up a big total after being on 95 for 1 in the 18th over. But the tourists lost nine wickets within 33 runs in a spectacular collapse to fold up for a meagre 128.

The hosts wobbled in the chase losing five wickets in the process. But Mahmudullah Riyad (51 not out) wrapped things up and saw the Tigers through.

Zimbabwe’s defence of the paltry score was boosted by pacers Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara, who sent openers Tamim Iqbal (10) and Anamul (8) back early.

Debutant Soumya Sarkar (20) departed after he had settled in, while Shakib Al Hasan followed without scoring to put the hosts under more pressure at 58 for four in the 13th over.

Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim regained ground with a 35-run fifth wicket stand. Mushfiq (11), however, edged down the leg-side to be caught behind for Chatara’s third wicket with his side still shy of the hundred mark.

In-form Mahmudullah took charge thereafter with Sabbir Rahman (13 not out) at the other end.

Mahmudullah was dropped on 39 and the let-off saw the batsman finish things off with a couple of boundaries, the last one bringing up his half-century. He decked his 55-ball 51 with 10 boundaries.

Zimbabwe raised prospects of a formidable score as they were 95 for one at one stage.

Although skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza struck early to send Sikandar Raza (9) packing, the Africans recovered fast with Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda stitching a 79-run partnership off just 77 balls.

Taijul, who replaced Rubel Hossain in the match, came in at the 11th over for a five-over spell conceding just 11 runs when Masakadza and Sibanda were going strong.

The opener struck five boundaries and three sixes

After Masakadza (52) left gap between bat and pad to let a Jubair Hossain googly sneak through, Bangladesh spinners ran through the Zimbabwe batting order in two bursts.

Shakib spun in two breaks in as many overs to see the back of Brendan Taylor (9) and Sibanda (37). When Timycen Maruma (1) joined the others back in the hutch Zimbabwe had crumbled to 112 for five.

Man of the Match Taijul came back for his second spell and bagged his maiden ODI wicket with the first ball, trapping Solomon Mire (9) in front.

He grabbed Tinashe Panyangara's wicket in the last ball of the over to kick off the hat-trick run. He took out John Nyumbu and Chatara in the first two balls of his next over to complete the extraordinary feat.

The left-arm spinner did not concede any run in the two overs that he bowled in the second spell to return with 4 for 11 in 7 overs.

Shakib polished off the Zimbabwe innings to finish with three wickets.

Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged Man of the Series.

“The boys showed character and the batsmen did well. Shakib, Mominul (Haque) and Mahmudullah batted really well and our bowlers did really well as well,” he said at the presentation ceremony.

“Taijul and the spinners gave us the 20 wickets we needed.

“Mash (Mashrafe) did a great job (with captaincy). Just happy to contribute to the team," he added.

Skipper Mashrafe was oozing with confidence after the clean sweep.

"Shakib, Tamim, Anamul, Mushfiq were the crisis man, Taijul was brilliant today and so was Arafat Sunny. They (backroom staff) kept working hard with us, giving us a lot of support and they have done a really good job,” he said.