Spinners Mohammad Rafique and Enamul Haque shared four wickets as Bangladesh restricted Zimbabwe to 198 in the fifth and final one-day international in Dhaka on Monday, despite a career-best 84 from Barney Rogers.
Bangladesh’s decision to go into the decisive game with three left-arm spinners paid rich dividends as Rafique, Haque and Manjural Rana conceded just 94 runs in their 30 overs to make Zimbabwe struggle for runs on a slow pitch.
The series is currently tied at 2-2.
Left-handed Rogers kept alive Zimbabwe’s hopes of posting a competitive total with his third half-century in four matches, but his dismissal sparked a collapse that saw the tourists lose their last seven wickets for 37 runs.
Electing to bat, Zimbabwe were well-placed at 161-3 before Rogers was stumped off Haque after hitting one six and seven fours in his fifth half-century in 12 matches.
Rogers, who had made 66, 51 and 49 in his past three matches, put on 95 for the third wicket with Brendan Taylor (36), but Zimbabwe failed to build on their partnership as they lost wickets at regular intervals against the Bangladeshi spinners.
Skipper Tatenda Taibu scored a fighting 31, but his team still failed to cross the 200-mark.
Seamer Nazmul Hossain backed his spinners with two wickets to ensure Bangladesh did not have to chase a stiff target. — Sapa-AFP