Dhaka, Bangladesh: Opener Anamul Haque struck 95 to steer Bangladesh to a respectable 297-6 against Zimbabwe in the third one-day international on Wednesday.
Haque shared a 121-run opening stand with Tamim Iqbal, 40. Their successive century opening partnerships are a first for Bangladesh in ODIs.
Shakib Al Hasan also made 40, and Mushfiqur Rahim, 33, and Mahmdullah, 33 not out, helped the hosts take the innings closer to 300 after being sent in by Zimbabwe.
Iqbal was run out for a second straight match to give Zimbabwe its first success.
Slow medium-pacer Hamilton Masakadza induced Mominul Haque (15) with a slower ball to break the 39-run partnership with Haque when it was threatening to get bigger.
Legspinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi finally claimed Haque when he was just five runs away from his fourth century. Haque, who hit nine fours in his third successive half century in the series, was out when he pulled to clear deep midwicket, and didn't clear it enough.
Shakib and Rahim added 72 off just 48 balls to keep the runrate up, before the former gifted his wicket, attempting to pull fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara.
Panyangara also dismissed Rahim with a fuller length delivery to bring the side back in contention at 244-5, but only for a while.
Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman, 22, piled on 46 runs in five overs.
Panyangara was the most successful bowler for Zimbabwe with 2-54. Occasional bowler Hamilton Masakadza, Kamungozi, and medium-pacer Neville Madziva picked up one wicket apiece.
