Shakib seals series win for Bangladesh

Shakib Al Hasan grabbed 3-15 before hitting an unbeaten 33 to guide Bangladesh to a series-clinching six-wicket win in the third one-day international against Zimbabwe here on Friday.

The 21-year-old left-hander justified his recent status as the top one-day all rounder as Bangladesh surpassed Zimbabwe's 119-9 with 27 balls to spare in a match reduced to 37 overs per side due to fog.

The chase did not appear easy at one time with the hosts wobbling at 89-4, but Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim (20 not out) kept their nerve to help their side clinch the three-match series 2-1.

Shakib hit four fours, all against spinner Prosper Utseya, in his 36-ball knock while Rahim brought off the winning runs with a boundary off paceman Edward Rainsford.

Veteran Raymond Price was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers, returning 2-9 off seven measly overs.

Earlier, the pace-spin combination of Mashrafe Mortaza (3-26) and Shakib did the trick for Bangladesh with the duo accounting for six Zimbabwe wickets after skipper Mohammad Ashraful put the visitors in to bat.

Mortaza started the slide when he trapped opener Vusimuzi Sibanda leg-before in the very first over before returning to dismiss the next two batsmen in an inspired opening spell.

Left-arm spinner Shakib rattled the visitors further by getting rid of Elton Chigumbura, Raymond Price and Rainsford in quick succession.

Off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah chipped in with two wickets and Rubel Hossain with one to underline yet another disciplined performance by the home team bowlers.

Sean Williams, who top-scored with 59 in the previous game which the visitors lost by six wickets, offered some resistance in making 38 off 46 balls with five fours, but that was about all.