News: Naeem stars as Bangladesh sweep series 4-1

There wasn’t much to look for when Bangladesh, already 3-1 up in the series, took the field to face Zimbabwe in the fifth and final ODI in Chittagong on Thursday, but the spectators were in for a surprise. The dead rubber proved to be a thriller as Bangladesh managed a one-wicket victory, thanks to all-rounder Naeem Islam’s 73 (not out) off 90 deliveries.

Put into bat, the visitors scored 221 for 9 in their 50 overs with Brendon Taylor hitting his maiden ton scoring an unbeaten 118 off 125 deliveries. Taylor guided Zimbabwe to their best total in the series by hitting seven fours and four sixes and piling on 19 runs in the last over. The rest of Zimbabwe’s batsmen failed to deliver once again and Abdur Razzak, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah pocketed 3 wickets each. Chigumbara contributed with a quick 38.

Playing for pride, Zimbabwe were all smiles when the hosts were down to 187 for 9 in the 43rd over. Bangladeshi top-order was sent packing to the pavilion with three falling prey to cheeky run outs. Mahmudullah was the only significant contributor with 33. But then Man of the Match Naeem proved his heroics hitting three consecutive sixes off Chamu Chibhabha in the crucial 48th over.

“Right to the end I never thought we would lose," a confident Naeem said after the match. Zimbabwean captain Hamilton Masakadza also gave this 22-year-old right hander the due credit, “I thought the guys fought hard, tried hard but that one over which went for 18 to 20 runs changed things.”

Meanwhile, Abdur Razzaq was awarded the Man of the Series for scalping a total of 15 wickets with the best figures being 5 for 29.