NAPIER: Bangladesh pacers rattled New Zealand and powered the touring side to a thumping nine-wicket victory in the third ODI and avoided a series whitewash.

Putting New Zealand into bat first, pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib gave Bangladesh a head start by getting rid of Rachin Ravindra (8) and Henry Nicholls (1) cheaply, reducing the hosts to 22/2 in the eighth over.

Will Young, who emerged as New Zealand’s mainstay with the bat in the series, offered brief resistance along with Tom Latham as the duo added 36 runs for the third wicket.

But Shoriful Islam ended the budding partnership in the 17th over when he outclassed Tom Latham with a well-crafted nip-backer. The New Zealand captain could score 21 in 34 deliveries with the help of a six.

Latham’s dismissal sparked a collapse in New Zealand’s batting unit as the home side lost four wickets in the space of just five overs amid which they added 12 runs.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

New Zealand also lost Will Young in their excruciating collapse, who remained their top-scorer with a cautious 26. His 43-ball knock featured three boundaries.

Soumya Sarkar then took Bangladesh’s bowling charge and added further to the misery of New Zealand by running through their lower order and eventually booking them on a skimpy 98.

Set to chase a modest 99, Bangladesh comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just one wicket and 209 balls to spare.

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a sensible half-century amid his 69-run partnership with Anamul Haque, who scored a brisk 37 before walking back to the dugout in the 13th over when the touring needed a further 15 runs.

Shanto remained the top-scorer for Bangladesh with an unbeaten 51 off 42 deliveries, laced up with eight boundaries.

READ: Noman Ali ruled out of Test series against Australia