Consolation win for Zimbabwe

Sikandar Raza and Brian Bennett hit half-centuries as Zimbabwe avoided a 5-0 whitewash with an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the final T20I in Dhaka on Sunday.

Skipper Raza hit an unbeaten 72 off 46 balls to help Zimbabwe to 158 for two, having restricted Bangladesh, who won the first four matches of the series, to 157 for six.

Bennett made 70 off 49 balls after taking 2-20 with the ball at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Zimbabwe lost opener Tadiwanashe Marumani for one but Bennett and Raza added 75 runs for the second wicket to put the visitors in control.

Mohammad Saifuddin dismissed Bennett, who hit five fours and as many sixes, but Raza overcame a muscle injury to steer Zimbabwe to victory.

His unbeaten knock included six fours and four sixes before Johnathan Campbell hit the winning single with nine balls remaining.

Zimbabwe was "obviously very disappointed" to lose the series, Bennett said after the match. "We needed four or five games to win.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was pleased with his side's performance in the series ahead of the T20 World Cup, despite the crushing defeat in the final.

Earlier, Mahmudullah Riyad smashed a 44-ball 54 for Bangladesh.

The right-hander, who hit six fours and a six, put on 69 runs with Najmul to help Bangladesh recover from 15-3 after being asked to bat.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan added 21 off 17 balls after Najmul departed for 36 runs off 28 balls.

The hosts were struggling when Blessing Muzarabani removed opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim for two and Bennett struck twice in successive overs.

Bennett had opener Soumya Sarkar caught by Sean Williams at backward point for seven before he edged Towhid Hridoy behind for one.

Mahmudullah responded with three fours off the first four balls he faced.

Wellington Masakadza dismissed Najmul to break the partnership, but Shakib's brief cameo kept the scoreboard ticking.

Luke Jongwe brought an early end to Shakib's innings but Jaker Ali Anik struck an unbeaten 24 off 11 balls.

Muzarabani took 2-22 for Zimbabwe.