Fourth one-day international, Mirpur:
Bangladesh 241 (48.1 ovs) bt New Zealand 232 (49.3 ovs) by nine runs
Match scorecard  Bangladesh begin a lap of honour after completing their victory
Bangladesh sealed their first series win against top-level opposition with victory over New Zealand to go 3-0 up in their best-of-five one-day series. Shakib Al Hasan's superb 106 helped the Tigers to 241 and New Zealand fell nine runs short of their target. The hosts were 97-4 before Mahmudullah (37) and Shakib, who blasted 11 fours, helped set a testing total. In reply, Kane Williamson made 108 for the Kiwis before he was the last man to fall as New Zealand slumped to defeat. Shakib also starred with the ball on a momentous day for the Tigers, taking 3-54 from his 10 overs. This was the first time Bangladesh have won three consecutive ODIs against top-tier opposition in their 233-match history.  | 606: DEBATE |
"We played great cricket throughout the series and our guys showed their character when they needed to," said Shakib. "In the bowling part, there were some critical moments but the boys held themselves together and finally got the result we needed." New Zealand won the toss in Mirpur and decided to field first, the decision paying early dividends with Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills taking three wickets for the loss of 44 runs. Then spinner Vettori had Imrul Kayes caught by Brendon McCullum for 37 to leave the Tigers in trouble at 97-4. But Shakib brought Bangladesh right back into the match, moving his side from their predicament to 216-5 before he was caught and bowled by Vettori, while Mahmudullah's cameo helped push the score on as the Tigers set a target of 241. In reply, New Zealand's top order failed to fire once more as they slumped to 80-5, with another Tigers victory seeming to be the most likely outcome before Williamson and Nathan McCullum ensured it would go down to the wire. First, 20-year-old Williamson put on a 70-run partnership with Grant Elliott before the all-rounder was caught by Abdur Razzak off the bowling of Shakib for 22.  Williamson's innings provided a crumb of comfort for the Kiwis |
After Kyle Mills went for eight Williamson was joined by McCullum and an unlikely win for New Zealand was in their sights as they moved the score to 225 with two overs remaining, needing 17 to win. But a brilliant throw from substitute fielder Naeem Islam saw McCullum run out for 33, before Daryl Tuffey (0) and the brave Williamson - who became, at 20, the youngest New Zealand player to score a one-day century - fell in quick succession to hand Bangladesh a historic win. Williamson's performance earned praise from Shakib, who said: "The new guy came in and batted really well and he gave us a lot of thinking to do. He played our spinners exceptionally well, so full credit to him." It was scant consolation for the tourists, however, with Vettori urging his team to "restore a little bit of pride" in the final game of the series on Sunday. He added: "Unfortunately, in all three games we put ourselves in tough positions. It's something we need to rectify in the last game. It's a must-win for us."
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