Ross Taylor hit a fighting hundred to help New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 79 runs in the third and final one-day international on Tuesday for a 2-1 win in the three-match series.
The 24-year-old Taylor, who scored 103 for his third one-day century, carried New Zealand to a decent 249-7 in 50 overs before the visitors restricted Bangladesh to 170-8.
Bangladesh were seeking their first series win over a major Test-playing country before a 14 000 capacity crowd at the Divisional Stadium, but it was the tourists who took the honours.
Only Tamim Iqbal (35) batted with some authority for the hosts as paceman Kyle Mills initiated the slump by removing opener Zunaed Siddique for one, before Jacob Oram dismissed debutant Imrul Kayes (12) and skipper Mohammad Ashraful (eight) in his incisive five-over first spell.
Off-spinner Jeetan Patel then took over, dismissing dangerous-looking local boy Iqbal and then accounting for Shakib Al Hasan (one) to end all hopes of Bangladesh successfully chasing the target.
From 98-7, Naeem Islam (46 not out) and Abdur Razzak (28) gave the score some respectability, but it only delayed the inevitable.
Earlier, it was Taylor who was the hero for New Zealand after the visitors won the toss and batted.
The tall right-hander put on 125 runs for the third wicket with Jamie How (73) to rescue New Zealand from the early loss of openers Jesse Ryder (three) and Brendon McCullum (six).
Taylor hit five fours and four towering sixes in his 119-ball knock, finally falling in the 47th over, caught behind off paceman Mashrafe Mortaza.
How provided valuable support, hitting ten boundaries in his 82-ball innings — his seventh half-century in one-day cricket — before he was adjudged leg-before wicket to off-spinner Islam.
Jacob Oram, who scored 57 and 75 not out in the first two matches, was caught at deep mid-wicket for just three, while Scott Styris fell for 12, but Taylor continued the good work.
Skipper Daniel Vettori (19) and Kyle Mills (18) remained not out.
New Zealand now play Bangladesh in the first of two Tests starting on Friday.
The second Test starts in Dhaka from October 25. — AFP
