The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Chittagong

A brilliant ton by right-hand batsman Ross Taylor enabled visiting New Zealand to clinch the three-match BRAC Bank ODI Series 2-1 beating Bangladesh by 79 runs in the 3rd match at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium (BSSRAS) in Chittagong on Tuesday.

After winning the first match by seven wickets, there was a very good chance for the Tigers to clinch the series against a strong team like the Kiwis, but they were not able to avail the opportunities.

Chasing a target of 250, Bangladesh's hope for their first series win against a Test-playing nation other than Zimbabwe was shattered as they were able to manage 170/8 in the allocated 50 overs. Tamim Iqbal, the local boy, raised expectations with a brisk 35 runs, but he was one of four batsmen to fall in the space of just 10 runs. Later, Nayeem Islam with his unbeaten 46 helped the hosts take the total to near the 175-mark.

Although Bangladesh made a patient start, but Junaid Siddiqui fell early to Kyle Mills for 1.

Debutante Imrul Kayes was the 2nd man to go for 12 when Jacob Oram, who failed earlier with the bat, struck in his first over, having Kayes caught behind with Bangladesh score at 49.

Then Tamim on the same score of 49 returned to the pavilion nicking Jeetan Patel to McCullum. Then an ambitious shot from skipper Mohammad Ashraful (8) against Oram led to his downfall, and a slog-sweep from Shakib Al Hasan (1) made it two wickets for Patel as well.

After that newcomer Nayeem Islam's not out 46 along with tail-ender Abdur Razzak's 27 and Mushfiqur Rahim's 15 helped the hosts to cross the 150-mark.

Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram and spinner Jeetan Patel played their part with the ball claiming two wickets each to notch a morale booster series victory before the test matches.

Earlier, after winning the toss for the first time, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori didn't hesitate to bat first. And with Taylor's scintillating century along with a useful fifty from number three Jamie How the touring side posted 249 for 7 in the stipulated 50 overs.

The early loss of openers Jesse Ryder 3 and Brendon Mc Cullum 6 with team total at 13 hinted at yet another top-order collapse, but Ross Taylor and Jamie How ensured that the task of batting out the overs do is not left to the lower-order batsmen in the series-decider.

Taylor's 3rd ODI century of 103 and How's 73 came at a quick pace to boost New Zealand to a defendable score, but it was a still not-so-convincing batting performance, with the rest of the top seven failing to make more than 12.

After losing two quick wickets, How along with Taylor put up 125 runs in the 3rd wicket to steady the ship for the tourists.

How was lbw to off spinner Nayeem Islam at the score of 138/3 in 36.1 overs. Taylor then took charge, and the scoring-rate was kept above six as New Zealand pushed for a total of around 250.

Two quick wickets hampered their chances of pushing the run-rate in the third power play (overs 35-40). Taylor fell to Mashrafe soon after his third hundred - his first since February 2007-with only 44 of his runs coming in boundaries.

Vettori not out 19 and Kyle Mills not out 18 chipped in with useful contributions at the end, adding 30 in the last three overs.

Spinner Shakib Al Hasan and pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bagged two wickets apiece for 41 and 50 runs respectively for the hosts.