Tamim stars as Bangladesh crush Afghanistan for 100th ODI win

A sparkling century from Tamim Iqbal and an imperious show from the bowlers have powered Bangladesh to a huge 141-run win over Afghanistan in the third ODI for a sixth successive series win.

With the series against England just days away, the dominating win will lift the Tigers' spirits as they sealed their 100th ODI victory at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Tamim struck his seventh ODI ton - a run-a-ball 118 - and became the highest centurion for Bangladesh in the format, surpassing ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan.

The left-handed batsman fashioned a massive 140-run second-wicket stand with Sabbir Rahman, who contributed (65), to power Bangladesh to a daunting 279-8 after electing to bat.

Southpaw Mosharraf Hossain then shone with the ball on his return to international cricket as he grabbed 3-24 and helped skittle out a stuttering Afghanistan for just 138 to seal the historic win.

Afghan skipper Asghar Stanikzai began with Mohammad Nabi's offbreak but dropped the precious yet simple catch from Tamim in the third over.

The opener then momentarily switched to caution and focussed on playing himself in. But at the other end Soumya Sarkar chased a wide ball outside offstump and perished prematurely again, for 11.

Tamim then shrugged off any lingering doubt by cracking Mirwais Ashraf, who had taken out Soumya, for three boundaries in an over.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza signalled his attacking intent by promoting Sabbir to number three.

He looked streaky to begin with but slowly gained composure and with Tamim on song at the other end, began dealing in boundaries.

The 24-year old batsman clubbed two superb sixes off Dawlat Zadran and Samiullah Shenwari to hint a return to form.

With the runs flowing from both ends, Stanikzai turned to his spinners in search of a wicket as Tamim eased to his fifty off 63 balls.

Sabbir then brought up his third half-century off 67 balls and with the help of some sloppy fielding from the Afghans, Bangladesh reached 150 in the 33rd over.

Spinner Rahmat Shah then gave Afghanistan the much-needed break when Sabbir miscued a shot to short third man after bludgeoning the bowler for a huge six over deep midwicket.

Tamim had things under control and reached his landmark century off 110 balls. After reaching his hundred, he shifted gears and hammered Shah for back-to-back sixes after a boundary.

Nabi then got his man when Tamim looked for another big one but holed out near the long-off boundary.

Tamim’s wicket triggered a collapse as he, Shakib (17), Mushfiqur Rahim (12), Mosaddek Hossain (4) and Mosharraf Hossain (4) went back in the space of 36 runs.

Mahmudullah (32 not out) then launched a late onslaught and took Bangladesh to the total.

The tourists' batsmen never looked comfortable in their steep chase and Mashrafe struck early to remove the trigger-happy Mohammad Shahzad for a duck.

Nawroz Mangal (33) and Rahmat Shah (36) steadied the ship with a 47-run stand but Mosharraf struck twice in an over to peg back the Afghans' chase.

Shakib then caught Stanikzai short of the crease with a direct hit as Afghanistan batsmen fell in a heap.

Taskin Ahmed, who was introduced in the 17th over, then removed Samiullah Shenwari (13) and Shah in successive overs before Mosharraf held on to a return catch to take out Nabi (3).

The collapse had all but wrapped up the game for the home team as Najibullah Zadran, who struck four sixes for his 26, and Rashid Khan (17) only delayed the crushing defeat.

Tamim was adjudged both the Man-of-the-Match and the Man-of-the-Series for scoring 218 runs in the series.