Bangladesh lost an ODI series to New Zealand at home for the first time since 2013 after their seven-wicket defeat in the third and final match today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
They suffered a 2-0 defeat in three-match series-the first match was washed out due to heavy rain before they lost the second game by 86 runs.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto battled lonely to hit 76 on his captaincy debut as Bangladesh were bundled out for a below par 171 in 34.2 overs, failing to play 50 overs yet again.
New Zealand gunned down the target with ease, making 175-3 in 34.5 overs with opener Will Young leading the charge with 70. Henry Nicholls was not out on 50.
Mahmudullah Riyad's 21 was the second-best and was only 20 plus knock in Bangladesh's innings, which exposed their batting frailties in an otherwise a good batting track.
Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first as Bangladesh came up with four changes from the squad of the second game.
Aiming to draw the series, Bangladesh's start was not ideal enough as they lost both openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Zakir Hasan, who made his ODI debut with his match, at the very outset. That left them 8-2 in the just third over of the match.
Fast bowler Adam Milne, one of the two changes of New Zealand, claimed 4-34 while Trent Boult and Cole McConchie took two wickets apiece.
Zakir made just 1 before Milne rattled his stump with an express delivery.
Tanzid Tamim also fell to single digit figure but Shanto, who scored 89 and 104 in his previous two matches in Asia Cup, showed the way how to bat in this wicket.
Unfortunately, none of the batters could follow his suits. Towhid Hridoy showed the glimpse of talent further, taking the New Zealand bowlers in utmost confidence but Milne had him caught by Will Young at point to dismiss him for 18.
Mushfiqur Rahim also got his start and scored 18 before skipper Lockie Ferguson removed him.
Mahmudullah hit leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, the wrecker-in-chief of Bangladesh in the second match, consecutive boundaries but he too failed to convert his start as he edged behind after sharing 49-run for the fifth wicket with Shanto.
Sodhi who grabbed career-best 6-39 in the second game, went wicket-less as he conceded 40 runs in six overs.
Although Shanto kept the scoreboard ticking, the wickets tumbling at the end as Bangladesh lost the last five wickets for just 34 runs.
Shanto was the eighth batter out when he tried to play a reverse sweep against offspinner Cole McConchie. He struck 10 fours in his 84-ball knock.
After Shanto's dismissal, Bangladesh lost three wickets, adding just three runs to the scoreboard.
Finn Allen hit three boundaries in the first over of left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam to get the side off to a good start in moderate chase.
Young also found the boundaries at regular interval as New Zealand openers made good start unlike Bangladesh.
Shoriful who took 2-32, however hit back with consecutive wickets, removing Allen for 28 and handing Dean Foxcroft a golden duck on his debut.
Young and Nicholls then combined for an 89-run for the third wicket to edge the side closer to the victory.
Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed broke the partnership, taking the wicket of Young after he hit 10 fours and one six in his 80-ball knock.
Nicholls however remained not out on 50. Tom Blundell who confirmed the victory with a boundary was on 23.
