Bangladesh strike back to beat Zimbabwe

BOGRA, Bangladesh, Dec 5 (Reuters) Despite a second consecutive half century by Sean Williams, Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 26 runs in the third one-day international today to win the five-match series 3-0.

Left-arm spinner and man-of-the-match Abdur Razzak claimed a career best five for 33 while medium-pacers Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahdat Hossain took three and two wickets respectively.

Williams scored 68 from 109 balls, hitting three fours, before he was caught at square leg by substitute fielder Farhad Reza off Razzak.

Earlier, Zimbabwe pace bowler Christopher Mpofu and spinner Keith Dabengwa restricted Bangladesh to 220 runs in 49.2 overs.

Mpofu claimed a career best 4-42 in his 12th match while left-arm spinner Dabengwa captured three for 19.

Put in to bat by Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya, who won the toss, Bangladesh started confidently in the day-night match until opener Shahriar Nafees (35) was removed by Elton Chigumbura, who bowled just one over.

Nafees was caught by Gary Brent at short fine leg on the fourth ball of the 10th over to break an opening partnership of 64 runs with Mehrab Hossain jnr, the top scorer with 38.

Nafees hit seven fours from 34 balls while Mehrab delighted the home crowd with five fours boundaries. Mohammad Ashraful (36), Saqibul Hasan (26) and Mashrafe Mortaza, who struck two sixes in his 23 not out were other contributors.

The fourth match will be played in Dhaka on Friday.

Reuters DH DB2347