DHAKA: Opening batsman Anamul Haque top-scored with 95 as Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 124 runs in the third One-day International to wrap up the five-match series in Dhaka on Wednesday.

The hosts took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series after winning the first two ODIs in Chittagong by 87 runs and 68 runs respectively.

Anamul and Tamim Iqbal laid the foundations for a big win, putting up an opening stand of 121 — their second century partnership in as many matches, which guided Bangladesh to 297-6.

Faced with a massive target in a must-win contest, Zimbabwe were never up to the task and were bowled out for 173 runs in 39.5 overs.

Mashrafe Mortaza (2-24) had an opening-spell blast to leave Zimbabwe 2-22, and spinners did the rest.

Arafat Sunny mopped up the tail to finish with 4-27, his second four-wicket haul in as many matches.

Skipper Elton Chigumbura staged a lone battle for Zimbabwe to stay 53 not out.

Anamul was named man-of-the-match for his 120-ball innings, which included nine fours.

Tamim uncharacteristically took the role of an anchor in the stand before he was freakishly run out for 40.

Shakib al Hasan (40 off 33 balls) and Mushfiqur Rahim (33 off 22 balls) added 72 for the fourth wicket in just eight overs to bring the local crowd to their feet.

Mohammad Mahmudullah (33 not out off 26 balls) and Sabbir Rahman (22 off 13 balls) also enjoyed a run fest as Bangladesh added 103 runs in the last 10 overs to post their highest total in the series.

The last two matches of the series will be held at the same ground on Friday and Monday.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Tamim Iqbal run out 40

Anamul Haque c sub b Kamungozi 95

Mominul Haque c Maruma b Masakadza 15

Shakib Al Hasan c Chigumbura b Panyangara40

Mushfiqur Rahim b Panyangara 33

Mohammad Mahmudullah not out 33

Sabbir Rahman c Maruma b Madziva 22

Mashrafe Mortaza not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-10, W-4, NB-3) 17

TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 297

FALL OF WKTS: 1-121, 2-160, 3-167, 4-239, 5-244, 6-290.

DID NOT BAT: Arafat Sunny, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam.

BOWLING: Panyangara 10-0-54-2 (1nb); Madziva 9-0-60-1 (1nb, 2w); Chigumbura 3-0-18-0 (1nb, 2w); Kamungozi 10-0-40-1; Maruma 2-0-15-0, 10-0-64-0; Masakadza 5-0-25-1; Mire 1-0-11-0.

ZIMBABWE:

H. Masakadza c Mushfiqur b Mashrafe 12

V. Sibanda c Sunny b Mashrafe 9

T. Maruma c Mashrafe b Rubel 8

B.R.M. Taylor lbw b Shakib 28

S.F. Mire c Mushfiqur b Sunny 12

R.W. Chakabva b Mahmudullah 14

E. Chigumbura not out 53

P.J. Moor lbw b Rubel 2

N. Madziva c sub b Sunny 11

T. Panyangara b Sunny 0

T. Kamungozi b Sunny 4

EXTRAS (B-8, LB-1, W-11) 20

TOTAL (all out, 39.5 overs) 173

FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-22, 3-39, 4-80, 5-82, 6-119, 7-126, 8-153, 9-153.

BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 7-2-24-2; Shafiul Islam 2.1-0-20-0 (2w); Rubel Hossain 5.5-0-22-2 (1w); Sabbir Rahman 2-0-16-0; Arafat Sunny

8.5-0-27-4; Shakib Al Hasan 7-1-19-1 (1w); Mohammad Mahmudullah

5-0-29-1 (2w); Mominul Haque 2-0-7-0.

RESULT: Bangladesh won by 124 runs.

UMPIRES: Anisur Rahman (Bangladesh) and C.K. Gaffaney (New Zealand).

TV UMPIRE: Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Anamul Haque.

FOURTH MATCH: Dhaka (D/N), Friday.

FIFTH MATCH: Dhaka (D/N), Monday.

Published in Dawn, November 27th , 2014