KEY POINTS:
New Zealand easily avoided becoming the first major cricketing nation to concede a one-day series to Bangladesh after their hosts' batting frailties made their shortcomings seem mild by comparison in Chittagong last night.
Set 250 to secure a historic 2-1 victory at the Divisional Stadium, Bangladesh never threatened
to repeat their giant killing deeds in Mirpur last Thursday.
They batted out the 50 overs but ended on 170 for eight - 79 short of New Zealand's 249 for seven, an innings highlighted by Ross Taylor's 103, his third ODI century.
Jamie How also hinted at a pleasing return to form ahead of the two-test series as he compiled a classy 73, a necessary knock after his made seven and a 16-ball duck in the earlier matches.
The pair added 125 for the third wicket after New Zealand were in early strife at 13 for two - their partnership was ultimately the point of difference between two sides that have consistently struggled to thrive at the crease.
Taylor crafted his ton off 117 balls though it was How who initially led the recovery after Jesse Ryder (3) and Brendon McCullum (6) were gone within seven overs.
How shed some poor form by recording his seventh ODI half century off 54 balls with eight boundaries - including the only three New Zealand stroked inside a circumspect opening 10 overs.
He eventually made 73 off 82 balls , a boost for the test opener ahead of the first match in Chittagong from Friday.
Taylor also made the most of his last opportunity, picking up the pace after needing 73 balls to make his seventh ODI half century.
He stroked five boundaries and a clubbed quartet of sixes - and needing just 44 balls to advance from his fifty to triple figures.
Taylor, visibly tiring in 30degC-plus heat, was out two balls after acknowledging his teammates when he skied a full toss to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.
How and Taylor glossed over an otherwise unimpressive performance from the specialist batsmen in their last pre-test dress rehearsal.
Ryder made a ponderous three from 20 balls before his lack of footwork saw him being bowled while McCullum was admittedly a shade unlucky to be adjudged leg before wicket for six.
Limited overs specialist Scott Styris, who is heading home tomorrow, made 12 while Daniel Flynn eked out five before he top edged an ill-conceived reverse sweep.
Oram, New Zealand's batting saviour in the first two matches, contributed just three - robbing the innings of some late over impetus though Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills slammed 30 off 18 balls at the death.
Although Bangladesh should have faced a tougher ask, it was still well beyond them.
Their quest to match the 250 for five they managed to stun Australia in Cardiff three years ago unravelled dramatically between the 12th and 17th overs as the score plummeted from 49 for one to 59 for five.
Oram missed out with the bat but triggered the Bangladeshi collapse when having debutant Imrul Kayes caught behind for 12.
Three balls later Jeetan Patel had Tamim Iqbal (35) bottom edging to McCullum's gloves and when Oram bent back Mohammad Ashraful's leg stump the outcome was a formality.
The captain's self-inflicted downfall for eight off seven balls prompted a crowd exodus though the actual end took another 34 dozy overs as the remaining batsmen sought to occupy the crease.
Naeem Islam was the chief culprit, top scoring with an unbeaten 46 off 106 balls.
New Zealand's victory followed their series-levelling 75-run win on Saturday.
They now seek to transfer their dominance to the test arena where the protection of their six-win no-loss record against Bangladesh is the priority.
Unused pace bowler Michael Mason and Styris return home leaving a squad of 13. Patel stated his case to bowl in tandem with Vettori by taking two for 29 off his 10.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand
J Ryder b Rasel 3
B McCullum lbw b Mortaza 6
J How lbw b Naeem 73
R Taylor c Rahim b Mortaza 103
S Styris lbw b Al Hasan 12
J Oram c Tamim b Al Hasan 3
D Flynn c Naeem b Razzak 5
D Vettori not out 19
K Mills not out 18
Extras (4lb 3w) 7
Total: (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 249
Fall: 5 (Ryder), 13 (McCullum), 138 (How), 172 (Styris), 179 (Oram), 201 (Flynn), 219 (Taylor)
Bowling: M Mortaza 10-2-50-2, S Rasel 10-0-40-1, A Razzak 10-0-52-1, N Islam 8-0-50-1 (1w), S Al Hasan 10-0-41-2, S Hossain 2-0-12-0 (2w)
Bangladesh
T Iqbal c McCullum b Patel 35
J Siddique c Ryder b Mills 1
I Kayes c McCullum b Oram 12
M Ashraful b Oram 8
S Al Hasan c Ryder b Patel 1
N Islam not out 46
M Rahim c How b Southee 15
M Mortaza c McCullum b Mills 9
A Razzak c McCullum b Ryder 27
S Hossain not out 12
Extras (4w) 4
Total (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 170
Fall: 13 (Siddique), 49 (Kayes), 49 (Iqbal), 57 (Ashraful), 59(Al Hasan), 77 (Rahim), 98 (Mortaza), 144 (Razzak)
Bowling: K Mills 8-1-24-2, T Southee 10-0-40-1 (3w), J Oram 8-2-16-2, J Patel 10-3-29-2, D Vettori 10-0-39-0 (1w), J Ryder 3-0-16-0, D Flynn 1-0-6-0
Result: New Zealand win by 79 runs, wins series 2-1
- NZPA
