New Zealand beat Bangladesh to clinch three-match series

Ross Taylor hit a fighting hundred to help New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 79 runs in the third and final One-Day International on Tuesday for a 2-1 win in the three-match series. The 24-year-old Taylor, who scored 103 for his third One-day century, carried New Zealand to a decent 249-7 in 50 overs before the visitors restricted Bangladesh to 170-8. Bangladesh were seeking their first series win over a major Test playing country before a 14,000 capacity crowd at the Divisional Stadium, but it was the tourists who took the honours. Only Tamim Iqbal (35) batted with some authority for the hosts as paceman Kyle Mills initiated the slump by removing opener Zunaed Siddique (one) before Jacob Oram dismissed debutant Imrul Kayes (12) and skipper Mohammad Ashraful (eight) in his incisive five-over first spell. Off-spinner Jeetan Patel then took over, dismissing dangerous-looking local boy Iqbal and then accounting for Shakib Al Hasan (one) to end all hopes of Bangladesh successfully chasing the target. From 98-7, Naeem Islam (46 not out) and Abdur Razzak (28) gave the score some respectability but it only delayed the inevitable. Earlier, it was Taylor who was the hero for New Zealand after the visitors won the toss and batted. The tall right-hander put on 125 runs for the third wicket with Jamie How (73) to rescue New Zealand from the early loss of openers Jesse Ryder (three) and Brendon McCullum (six). Taylor hit five fours and four towering sixes in his 119-ball knock, finally falling in the 47th over, caught behind off paceman Mashrafe Mortaza's full toss. How provided valuable support, hitting ten boundaries in his 82-ball innings -- his seventh half-century in One-day cricket -- before he was adjudged leg before wicket to off-spinner Islam. Jacob Oram, who scored 57 and 75 not out in the first two matches, was caught at deep mid-wicket for just three, while Scott Styris fell for 12 but Taylor continued the good work. Skipper Daniel Vettori (19) and Kyle Mills (18) remained not out. New Zealand now play Bangladesh in the first of two Tests starting in Chittagong from Friday. The second Test starts in Dhaka from October 25. SCOREBOARD New Zealand innings J.Ryder b Syed Rasel 3 B.McCullum lbw Mashrafe Mortaza 6 J.How lbw Naeem Islam 73 R.Taylor c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mashrafe Mortaza 103 S.Styris lbw Shakib Al Hasan 12 J.Oram c Tamim Iqbal b Shakib Al Hasan 3 D.Flynn c Naeem Islam b Abdur Razzak 5 D.Vettori not out 19 K.Mills not out 18 Extras: 7 (lb-4 w-3) Total: 249 for seven wickets in 50 overs Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-13, 3-138, 4-172, 5-179, 6-201 and 7-219 Did not bat: Jeetan Patel and Tim Southee Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-2-50-2 Syed Rasel 10-0-40-1 Abdur Razzak 10-0-52-1 Shakib Al Hasan 10-0-41-2 Naeem Islam 8-0-50-1 (w1) Shahadat Hossain 2-0-12-0 (w2) Bangladesh innings Tamim Iqbal c McCullum b Patel 35 Zunaed Siddique c Ryder b Mills 1 Imrul Kayes c McCullum b Oram 12 Mohammad Ashraful b Oram 8 Shakib Al Hasan c Ryder b Patel 1 Naeem Islam not out 46 Mushfiqur Rahim c How b Southee 15 Mashrafe Mortaza c McCullum b Mills 9 Abdur Razzak c McCullum b Ryder 27 Shahadat Hossain not out 12 Extras: 4(w4) Total: 170 for eight wickets Did not bat: Syed Rasel Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-49, 3-49, 4-57, 5-59, 6-77, 7-98 and 8-144 Bowling: Mills 8-1-24-2 Southee 10-0-40-1 (3w) Patel 10-3-29-2 Oram 8-2-16-2 Vettori 10-0-39-0 (1w) Ryder 3-0-16-1 Flynn 1-0-6-0