HARARE, Aug 6: A sublime unbeaten century from Shahriar Nafees helped Bangladesh cruise to victory over Zimbabwe in the fifth and final One-day International on Sunday.

Shahriar blasted 118 not out off of 148 balls, including 12 fours, as the Bangladeshis romped home with more than five overs to spare to finish on 201 for two after Zimbabwe had been bowled out for 197.

The Zimbabweans, who had already wrapped up the series after victory in the fourth one-dayer on Friday, were always struggling to get into the match after a disappointing batting performance.

Bangladesh's decision to play three spinners proved decisive, with both Abdur Razzak and part-time bowler Rajin Saleh tying the Zimbabweans in knots with a miserly performance.

Razzak finished with figures of 10-2-24-2 but it was Saleh who was the principal destroyer.

The part-time off-spinner took a career-best four wickets for 16 runs in only 4.3 overs, including the scalp of Zimbabwe's top-scorer Hamilton Masakadza, who added 75.

Masakada's departure precipitated a dramatic collapse for Zimbabwe and they lost their remaining five wickets for 19 runs.

That left the way clear for Shahriar to steer Bangladesh home and the result was never in doubt with opener Saleh contributing 37 before falling to Prosper Utseya and Saqibul Hasan chipping in with 30.

Scoreboard

ZIMBABWE:

T. Duffin lbw b Razzak 40

V. Sibanda c Mashud b Rasel 17

H. Masakadza b Rajin 75

B.R.M. Taylor c Mashud b Razzak 24

E. Chigumbura b Saqibul 0

S. Matsikenyeri b Rajin 10

T.V. Mufambisi run out 1

P. Utseya c sub b Rajin 7

N.B. Mahwire b Rajin 4

A.J. Ireland run out 3

E.C. Rainsford not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-9, W-3, NB-3) 15

TOTAL (all out, 49.3 overs) 197

FALL OF WKTS: 1-45, 2-79, 3-165, 4-166, 5-172, 6-178, 7-189, 8-189, 9-196.

BOWLING: Syed Rasel 10-1-46-1 (2nb); Farhad Reza 5-0-28-0 (1nb); Abdur Razzak 10-2-24-2 (1w); Mohammad Rafique 10-1-35-0; Saqibul Hasan 10-0-39-1; Rajin Saleh 4.3-0-16-4 (1w).

BANGLADESH:

Rajin Saleh c and b Utseya 37

Shahriar Nafees not out 118

Aftab Ahmed st Taylor b Utseya 6

Saqibul Hasan not out 30

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-2, W-5, NB-1) 10

TOTAL (for two wkts, 44.4 overs) 201

FALL OF WKTS: 1-99, 2-128.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim, Farhad Reza, Mohammad Rafique, Khaled Mashud, Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel.

BOWLING: Rainsford 10-1-40-0 (1w); Ireland 8-1-42-0 (1w); Utseya 10-1-31-2; Masakadza 10-0-44-0 (1w); Mahwire 4.4-0-33-0 (1nb, 2w); Matsikenyeri 2-0-7-0.

RESULT: Bangladesh won by eight wickets; Zimbabwe win series 3-2.

UMPIRES: K.C. Barbour (Zimbabwe) and I.L. Howell (South Africa).

TV UMPIRE: R.B. Tiffin (Zimbabwe).

MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shahriar Nafees.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Prosper Utseya.

—AFP