Bangladesh avoided a series whitewash by defeating Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the third and final ODI, although the hosts claimed the series 2-1.
After losing the one-off Test and the first two ODIs by 25 and 13 runs respectively, Bangladesh bounced back in style to register a convincing victory in the final match on Saturday (July 11).
Zimbabwe, who had already secured the series, were bowled out for 199 in 42.2 overs after being sent in to bat. Left-arm pacer Shariful Islam starred with the ball, claiming four wickets to restrict the home side.
Chasing a modest target of 200, Bangladesh reached 203 for 3 with 14 overs to spare. Openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Soumya Sarkar laid the foundation with a superb 151-run opening partnership. The duo brought up the team's hundred in the 19th over.
Tanzid survived on 27 and 37 after being given two lives before completing the ninth ODI half-century of his career from just 49 balls. Soumya also reached his fifty, bringing up his 15th ODI half-century off 64 deliveries.
Zimbabwe finally broke the opening stand in the 28th over when Tanaka Chivanga bowled Soumya for 69 off 82 balls, an innings featuring six fours and two sixes.
Tanzid then added 46 runs for the second wicket with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to take Bangladesh within touching distance of victory. However, he fell just three runs short of the target, dismissed by Ernest Masuku after a brilliant 94 off 101 balls, including eight fours and three sixes.
Masuku struck again by removing Towhid Hridoy for a duck, but Shanto (18 not out) and Nurul Hasan (0 not out) guided Bangladesh home comfortably.
Masuku finished with two wickets for Zimbabwe, while Chivanga picked up one.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock, while Zimbabwe's Evans was awarded the Player of the Series.
Despite the defeat in the final ODI, Zimbabwe sealed the three-match series 2-1, repeating their 2-1 ODI series triumph over Bangladesh in 2022. They had also won the one-off Test earlier in the tour.
