BANGLADESH completed a 3-0 series win over Hong Kong after scoring a five-wicket victory in the final international at the Hong Kong Cricket Club yesterday.
Set a target of 199 in 50 overs, Bangladesh were rescued by a profitable 72-run sixth-wicket partnership between Minhazul Abedin and Akram Khan, which took them from a tentative 130 for five to victory with 10 balls remaining.
Akram, not out in one friendly and two previous internationals, scoring 28, 82 and 38 respectively, hit a powerful 43 while Abedin made 38.
Before the pair came together, Hong Kong bowlers appeared to be taking a stranglehold on the match, for although the runs were coming steadily, Bangladeshi wickets were also falling at regular intervals.
Opener Sajid Hassan fell for two with the score at eight, caught by Stewart Brew off David Cross' bowling and fellow-opener Jehangir Alam (33) went at 75, being bowled by spinner Yarman Vachha.
Atahar Ali (37) and Selim Shahed (31) failed to ease Bangladeshi worries, Ali brilliantly caught by Hong Kong captain and wicketkeeper Pat Fordham off Matthew Johnson and Shahed run out by some slick fielding.
And when Aminul Islam was out for only seven, clipping Vachha to Fordham's safe gloves, it looked like Hong Kong would win their first match of the series.