Bangladesh Clinch Nail-Biter To Take 4-0 Series Win

Bangladesh Clinch Nail-Biter To Take 4-0 Series Win

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan (arm raised) leads the celebrations after Bangladesh secured a 4-0 series win over New Zealand

©REUTERS/Andrew Biraj (BANGLADESH - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Bangladesh 174 (Shakib Al Hasan 36, Vettori 3-32) beat
New Zealand 171 (Elliott 59, Rubel Hossain 4-25) by 3 runs
Fifth One-Day International, Mirpur
Scorecard

Bangladesh held on to beat New Zealand by three runs in the fifth and final One-Day International in Mirpur, sealing the five-match series 4-0 in the process.

In another close game where the home side had the edge, they bowled New Zealand out for 171 having themselves been dismissed for 174 batting first.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan top scored with 36, opener Imrul Kayes made 34 and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim 29 but aside from Shakib and Rahim putting on 55 for the fourth wicket, they struggled to build partnerships as Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills both returned three wickets.

They were backed up by a brace of wickets apiece from Andy McKay and Grant Elliott.

Elliott would then become one of only three New Zealand players to reach double figures as they too struggled to build partnerships.

Bangladesh bowled well up front to reduce them to 20 for five, Rubel Hossain going on to return four for 25 and Abdur Razzak alsso grabbing an early wicket.

New Zealand's recovery was led by Vettori (43) and Elliott (59) and they added 86 for the sixth wicket to get the Black Caps past the 100-mark and back in the game.

Shakib then had Vettori cuaght by Shafiul Islam and Suhrawadi Shuvo had Eliott caught by Hossain but New Zealand continued to fight, Kyle Mills making 33 to take the game down to the wire.

However, it was Bangladesh who emerged victorious, when wiith four runs required for victory from four balls, Mills was bowled by Hossain.

© Cricket World 2010