DHAKA: Shakib Al Hasan put in a superb all-round performance Thursday as Bangladesh enjoyed one of its biggest days in one-day cricket, beating New Zealand by nine runs in the thrilling fourth match to gain an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-game series. Bangladesh had earlier clinched one-day series against minnow Zimbabwe and a depleted West Indies, but it was their first series victory against a big team, thanks to skipper Shakib. Shakib, 23, was key to Bangladesh's victory before a sizeable crowd at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, hitting a 113-ball 106 for his fifth one-day hundred to help his side post 241. New Zealand was bowled out for 232 in the last over, with middle-order batsman Kane Williamson posing a major threat to Bangladesh's total with a fighting 108 for his maiden one-day hundred. Williamson, 20, also became the youngest New Zealand player to hit a one-day hundred. He cracked two sixes and six fours in his 132-ball knock. Batting with a runner because of cramp in the later part of his innings, Williamson added 70 for the sixth wicket with Grant Elliott (22) and 53 for the eighth with Nathan McCullum (33). New Zealand suffered a setback when McCullum was run out in the 49th over. They needed 16 to win in the last over, but could manage only six as Williamson was the last man out, caught in the deep off seamer Shaiful Islam. Shakib used his spinners well, and himself was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 54 runs with his left-arm spin. He pressed his slow bowlers early into the attack, and the move instantly clicked as left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak dismissed opener Bradley-John Watling (six) in his second over. Spinners Mohammad Mahmudullah and Suhrawadi Shuvo got a wicket apiece. Shakib earlier put on 53 for the fourth wicket with Imrul Kayes (37), 51 for the next with Mushfiqur Rahim (13) and 68 for the sixth with Mahmudullah (37) after paceman Kyle Mills had rocked the hosts with a double strike. Mills removed opener Shahriar Nafees and Junaid Siddique in his opening three overs to reduce Bangladesh to 44-3, but Shakib steadied the innings with a responsible knock on a slow track. Shakib hit the match's first six, hoisting Mills over long-on. He completed his century in the 41st over, flicking left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for his 11th boundary. He fell in the 43rd over, giving a return catch to Vettori after hitting one six and 11 fours. Debutant seamer Hamish Bennett finished 3-44, while skipper Vettori, Daryl Tuffey and Mills each took two wickets.
