Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal plays a shot during their match against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club in Harare on Tuesday. AP

Gulf Today Report
 
Tamim Iqbal defied the pain to lead Bangladesh to a five-wicket victory against Zimbabwe in the third ODI on Tuesday.

With the win, Bangladesh completed the clean sweep of the African minnows, beating them 3-0 in three-match series.

Zimbabwe posted a fighting total of 298 in 49.3 overs but Bangladesh achieved the target for the loss of just five wickets with two overs to spare.

Tamim led from the front and scored a blistering century to leave nothing to chance as Bangladesh doubled up their joy after routing Zimbabwe in one-off Test.

The Bangladesh captain had missed the Test due to the injury earlier this month.

After making his comeback into the squad, he seemed to be struggling for form as he could manage to score 0, and 20 in the first two games before making it up with a timely 14th century of his career.

His run-a-ball knock was studded with four hits to the fence and three over it.

Donald Tiripano had him caught by wicket-keeper Regis Chakabva but he had set the tone for a successful chase.

Tamim was dismissed with the tourist still needing 95 runs. But Nurul Hasan (45) and Afif Hossain (26) held their nerve and shared an unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership to take the tourist over the line.

Tamim has been ruled out of three T20 matches against Zimbabwe and will also miss the home fixtures against Australia and New Zealand after being advised to take rest for three months.