India thrashed Bangladesh by 77 runs in the third and final one-day international at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday to avoid a series whitewash.
Riding on the half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan (75) and MS Dhoni (69) and Ambati Rayudu’s 49-ball 44, the visitors posted 317-6 and then produced a disciplined bowling show to bundle out the hosts for 240 in 47 overs.
Bangladesh had already clinched the series after winning the first ODI by 79-run win and second by six wickets, also played at the same venue.
Sabbir Rahman top scored Bangladesh with 43 while Soumya Sarkar made 40. Litton Das (34) and Nasir Hossain (32) were their only other batsmen to pass 30-mark.
Part-time spinner Suresh Raina was the pick of India’s bowling with 3-45. Seamer Dhawal Kulkarni and off-spinner and Ravichandran Ashwin finished with 2-34 and 2-35 respectively.
Bangladesh got off to a poor start in a stiff chase, with Kulkarni trapping opener Tamim Iqbal (5) leg-before in the second over.
Sarkar and Das combined for a 54-run second-wicket stand to steady the innings before Kulkarni struck again to remove former, caught by Ashwin at mid-on. His quick-fire 34-ball knock featured five boundaries and two sixes.
Das and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (24) added another useful 50 runs before both fell in quick succession, leaving the hosts wobbling at 118-4.
Rahim was caught behind the stumps by Dhoni off Raina while Patel was clean bowled by left-arm spinner Axar Patel.
The dismissal of Shakib al Hasan (20) off Raina in the 27th over dashed out hosts’ any realistic hopes and a 49-run sixth-wicket stand between Rahman and Nasir Hossain (32) only kept at bay an inevitable defeat.
Earlier, Rohit Sharma (29) and Dhawan delivered India a 39-run opening stand before latter was caught wicketkeeper Das off pacer Mustafizur Rahman.
It was the third time in series that Rohit, the only batsmen to have struck two ODI centuries including a record 264, fell to the 19-year-old left-armer, who bagged 11 wickets in the first two games.
Dhawan and Kohli combined for a 75-run third-wicket stand to put India on track to a competitive total.
The pair separated when Kohli mistimed a clever delivery by Shakib while attempting a slog-sweep that rattled his stumps.
Dhoni and Dhawan then added 44 runs for the fourth wicket before Mashrafe Mortaza removed later, brilliantly caught by Hossain at short midwicket. His 73-ball knock was studded with 10 boundaries.
A 93-run stand between Dhoni and Rayudu paved the way for a 300-plus total before both fell to Masharafe.
Raina plundered 38 off 21 balls with two sixes and three boundaries to give a late boost to the scoreboard.
