Australia complete whitewash over Bangladesh

FATULLAH, Bangladesh, Apr 28 (Reuters) Mark Cosgrove hit a debut half-century as Australia beat Bangladesh by nine wickets in the third and final one-day international today to complete a whitewash over the hosts.

After bundling out the hosts for 124, the world champions cruised to 127-1 in just 22.4 overs, with Cosgrove making 74 and Simon Katich an unbeaten 42.

Brad Hogg was not out on four after Cosgrove was bowled by spinner Abdur Razzak (1-35) shortly before Australia had reached their target.

Cosgrove faced 69 balls, hitting two big sixes and seven boundaries, while Katich blasted five fours in his innings.

Earlier spinner Hogg led the Australia attack with 3-17, while paceman Mitchell Johnson and spinner Daniel Cullen took a pair of wickets apiece after Bangladesh had won the toss and elected to bat.

Brett Dorey, James Hopes and Michael Clarke were the other successful bowlers for the visitors, who got off to the best possible start when Johnson trapped opener Shahriar Nafees lbw off the third ball of the innings for nought.

Bangladesh found themselves deeper in trouble when they were reduced to 8-2 in the fourth over, Aftab Ahmed edging a Dorey delivery behind to be caught by keeper Adam Gilchrist for one.

Hopes then came on to remove Mohammad Ashraful for 13, caught by Cullen at mid-wicket with the score on 41.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, Rajin Saleh (37) and skipper Habibul Bashar (33) were the only Bangladesh batsmen to offer any sort of resistance.

Saleh was the fourth wicket to fall when he was bowled by Clarke after hitting five boundaries in his 102-ball stay and once Bashar was stumped by Gilchrist off Hogg, the home side had slumped to 107-6.

Hogg also removed Alok Kapali for five and Abdur Razzak for one, before Cullen took two of the last three wickets to fall.

Making his one-day international debut in this series, Cullen's first victim at this level was Khaled Mashud, stumped by Gilchrist for 11, and he doubled his tally by taking the last wicket to fall in the 43rd over, Mashrafe Mortaza for two.

Australia won the first match of the series by four wickets in Chittagong on Sunday before taking the second by 67 runs in Fatullah on Wednesday.

REUTERS PDS PC1743