CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh — Bangladesh completed its first ever 3-0 series sweep, and only its third ever series victory, as it cruised to a 186-run win over Zimbabwe on the fifth day of the third test Sunday.
Zimbabwe was bowled out for 262 chasing an unlikely 449 runs for victory as the Bangladeshi bowlers put up a disciplined and accurate performance to pick up wickets at regular intervals on the final day.
It was the only third time Bangladesh has won a test series after a 1-0 series win against the same opponents in 2005 and a 2-0 victory over the West Indies in 2009.
"Right from the start we believed we could win it by 3-0," Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said. "Credit should go to the bowlers … The batsmen also deserve big credit. They put up lots of runs on the board which created pressure on Zimbabwe."
Regis Chakabva offered some resistance and scored an unbeaten 89 with seven fours and six as he led Zimbabwe’s slim hopes of saving the test and avoiding a series whitewash.
Sikandar Raza scored a fluent 65 while Hamilton Masakadza made 38 but Zimbabwe lacked a long partnership to anchor the innings and lost its last three wickets for just one run as the tea break approached.
"Bangladesh has played better cricket so we got to give them credit for that," Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor said. "It was an opportunity for us to step up and bat 90 overs. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case."
Overnight unbeaten batsmen Raza and Masakadza started the day confidently after Zimbabwe resumed at 71-1.
Raza brought up his second fifty in the test with a boundary against Shuvagata Hom to be the first Zimbabwe opener to hit a half-century in both innings of a test since 2001.
Part time off-spinner Shuvagata Hom however put Bangladesh on top in the morning session.
Hom made the breakthrough, dismissing Hamilton Masakadza with a slower delivery and then followed it with the crucial wicket of Raza from a full toss.
Raza, after playing confidently throughout his innings, offered a simple catch to Taijul Islam at mid-wicket after hitting nine fours and two sixes in his 75 balls knock.
Leg-spinner Jubair Hossain then removed Taylor for 24 and Elton Chigumbura (5) in quick succession to help Bangladesh edge closer to the historic milestone.
Regis Chakabva delayed the inevitable, while Craig Ervine also looked confident until a superb ripper from Mhamudullah trapped him lbw on 16.
Taijul Islam took out Richmond Mutumbami (5) and the fast bowlers Rubel Hossain and Shafiul Islam then cleaned up the tail to cruise Bangladesh to a victory before the tea break was taken.
Fast bowlers Rubel Hossain (2-16), Shafiul Islam (2-17), leg-spinner Jubair Hossain (2-56) and part time off-spinner Shuvagata Hom (2-66) claimed two wickets apiece. Taijul Islam and Mahmudullah picked up one wicket each.
Bangladesh scored a record 503 against Zimbabwe in the first innings, before Jubair Hossain’s maiden five-for (5-96) bowled the African nation out for 374 to give the hosts a 129-run lead.
Bangladesh then declared the second innings for 319-5 to set a 449 run winning target for Zimbabwe. It was the first time Bangladesh scored 300 plus runs in both innings in a test and the aggregate of 822 is its highest in any test.
Bangladesh won the first test by three wickets and the second by 162 runs to send Zimbabwe to the bottom of the ICC test rankings.