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Bangladesh slumped to a second successive defeat against Zimbabwe, losing the three-match ODI series with a game to spare after suffering a 13-run loss in the second match at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
Chasing 248 for victory, Bangladesh were bowled out for 234 in 48.1 overs, extending their disappointing run after a 25-run defeat in the series opener.
Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 60, while opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim made 57. Despite their 84-run third-wicket partnership, Bangladesh failed to maintain the required momentum as Zimbabwe fought back through disciplined bowling.
Captain Richard Ngarava led the hosts’ attack with 3-55, while Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans claimed two wickets each.
Bangladesh suffered an early setback when Muzarabani dismissed Soumya Sarkar for 5 before Evans removed Najmul Hossain Shanto for 9, leaving the visitors struggling at 38-2.
Tanzid and Hridoy steadied the innings, but Zimbabwe regained control after Brian Bennett dismissed Tanzid, who struck five fours and a six in his 70-ball knock.
Hridoy added 47 runs with Nurul Hasan Sohan, who contributed 38, before Wessly Madhevere broke the partnership. Ngarava then struck twice in quick succession, removing Sohan and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat to trigger a middle-order collapse.
Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz fought until the closing stages, but the visitors eventually fell 13 runs short.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s pace attack made an impressive start after Zimbabwe elected to bat.
Taskin Ahmed struck twice inside the opening three overs, while Nahid Rana removed captain Craig Ervine to reduce the hosts to 32-3.
Opener Ben Curran then anchored Zimbabwe’s recovery with an unbeaten 111 off 135 balls, hitting nine boundaries. After sharing useful partnerships with Wessly Madhevere (15) and Sikandar Raza (33), Curran found a match-winning ally in Brad Evans.
Evans smashed an unbeaten 58 from just 38 deliveries, including two fours and five sixes, as the pair added an unbroken 99 runs for the seventh wicket. Zimbabwe collected 60 runs in the final five overs, lifting their total to 247-6.
Taskin finished with 2-57, Mehidy returned 2-32, while Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain claimed one wicket each.
The ODI series defeat follows Bangladesh’s innings-and-85-run loss in the one-off Test, capping another disappointing tour of Zimbabwe with one match still to play.