FIFTH ODI
Shahriar Nafees struck an unbeaten century to guide Bangladesh to victory in the fifth and final one-day international against Zimbabwe at Harare.
Zimbabwe posted a below-par 197 batting first, but Nafees batted with poise and fluency to lead the visitors over the line with six overs to spare. It left the end-of-series score at 3-2 to Zimbabwe.
Rajin Saleh and Abdur Razzak had earlier done the damage with the ball to bring a swift end to the Zimbabwe innings.
Razzak was the model of control as he returned figures of ten overs, two for 24, including the scalps of Terry Duffin (40) and Brendan Taylor (24).
Saleh bowled just 4.3 overs but found his rhythm quickly, clean bowling Hamilton Masakadza before adding the wickets of Stuart Matsikenyeri (10), Prosper Utseya (seven) and Blessing Mahwire (four) on his way to figures of four for 16.
Masakadza had been the mainstay of the Zimbabwe effort, scoring 75 runs from 101 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes.
The hosts were not helped by the run-outs of Tafadzwa Mufambisi and Anthony Ireland and when the innings eventually closed, three short of 200, Saleh was already getting set to open the batting.
He struck a fluent 37 in a stand of 99 with Nafees, who smashed 12 boundaries on his way to 118 not out from 148 deliveries.
Bangladesh lost their second wicket, that of Aftab Ahmed who was stumped by Taylor for six, with 128 on the board but it was plain sailing from then on. n Captain courageous Craig Wright smashed a huge six to complete a remarkable salvage act and keep alive Scotland's European Championship dream last night.
The Scots had appeared destined to be on the receiving end of a hammering by Holland at Ayr, just 24 hours after being thumped by Ireland.
At 16 for four needing 138 in the 20-over tussle, it needed a heroic knock by vice-captain Ryan Watson to set up the dramatic climax. And Wright rose to the challenge to spank the second last delivery over the ropes to seal the miraculous four-wicket triumph.
Now the Scots need to beat Denmark and Italy by wide margins if they are to land the trophy, and hope Ireland slip up.
