Much, much better, but still not good enough.
That was Bangladesh's lot as they pushed New Zealand all the way but still fell to a 0-3 one-day cricket series whitewash here at AMI Stadium tonight.
An outstanding 91 from Martin Guptill was crucial to New Zealand's successful pursuit of 242
in the third and final match, although his support network was lacking as his side had only three wickets to spare when the winning runs were hit with 5.1 overs remaining..
The tourists were highly competitive thanks to an impressive maiden one-day century to Imrul Kayes, who hit 101 in their 241 for nine, and skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who starred with the ball in taking four for 33.
Guptill was the glue that held New Zealand together and by the time he left the scene they were coasting at 195 for five with 15 overs remaining after he had helped himself to nine fours and three sixes in a classy display.
They should have cantered home from there but three wickets fell for 15 runs when Neil Broom was bowled for 18 by Al Hasan then Jacob Oram spooned up a soft catch on 12 one ball after depositing spinner Naeem Islam down the ground for a big six.
Suddenly wickets became an issue. At 210 for seven, it brought Ian Butler to the crease with another recent arrival James Franklin, who was batting with the aid of a runner after injuring himself during Bangladesh's innings.
Under pressure for the first time in the series, the hosts responded as this pair put on 34 to get their team across the line and stretch New Zealand's one-day record against the tourists to 16 wins in 17 matches.
New Zealand were unconvincing in several facets of their game, some of their bowling was wayward and the top order batting left something to be desired as they looked for quick runs from the outset as they reached 89 for three in 15 overs.
Captain Daniel Vettori promoted himself to No 5 and set about pressuring the tourists as he and Guptill shared a stand of 71 for the fourth wicket before Vettori, dropped earlier in the same over, holed out to deep mid wicket off part-time offspinner Mahmudullah for a run-a-ball 34.
At 160 for four in the 27th over, New Zealand were well ahead of the asking rate and Guptill kept them there, reaching his seventh one-day half-century in 25 matches.
The 23-year-old , whose only century in one-day cricket came on debut against the West Indies 13 months ago in Auckland, looked certain to add to that tally until he lifted a ball from Al Hasan down the throat of Tamim Iqbal on the wide long off boundary.
Earlier, Bangladesh owed a great debt to Kayes, who piloted them to a respectable score on the back of his maiden one-day century.
The 23-year-old left-hander became the first Bangladeshi to top three figures in a one-dayer against New Zealand, and shared handy partnerships with Mohammad Ashraful, who made 31, and Al Hasan, 36.
Kayes, in just his 10th one-dayer, appreciated the freedom afforded him by some wayward bowling by the New Zealand seamers, striking 11 boundaries and only departed in the 48th over after facing 138 balls when deceived by a faster delivery by spinner Vettori.
Bangladesh threatened to ask considerably more of the hosts when 198 for four at the end of the 40th over but Vettori and young seamer Tim Southee put the clamps on just as the tourists wanted to free their arms.
Southee ended with the best figures of three for 37 from three spells, while Vettori maintained his hold over the Bangladeshi by taking three for 42.
The other New Zealand bowlers were a mixture, particularly Butler, who conceded 58 runs from eight overs, while left-arm quick Andy McKay had one for 48 off as many overs.
Bangladesh had been invited to bat first by Vettori, who expected his fast bowlers to appreciate any juice left in the portable drop-in pitch by morning rain.
The ball did jag about a bit for a dozen or so overs, but the Bangladeshis showed a positivity lacking in the opening two matches, which they lost by wide margins.
New Zealand won the opening matches in the series by 146 runs and five wickets.
The two sides next meet in a one-off test, starting in Hamilton on Monday.
- NZPA
Martin Guptill scored 91 runs in the Black Caps' three wicket victory over Bangladesh in the third ODI. Photo / Getty Images
Much, much better, but still not good enough.
That was Bangladesh's lot as they pushed New Zealand all the way but still fell to a 0-3 one-day cricket series whitewash here at AMI Stadium tonight.
An outstanding 91 from Martin Guptill was crucial to New Zealand's successful pursuit of 242
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