Sarkar, Kayes centuries help Bangladesh whitewash Zimbabwe

Kayes, who had missed out on a century in the previous encounter almost batted through the innings scoring 115 off 112 balls while Sarkar put on a breathtaking display of strokeplay with his 92-ball 117-run knock.

Imrul Kayes and Soumya Sarkar struck centuries and stitched together a record 220-run stand – Bangladesh’s highest second-wicket partnership in ODI cricket – to lead Bangladesh to a 7-wicket win in the third ODI and a 3-0 whitewash over Zimbabwe at Chittagong on Friday.

Kayes, who had missed out on a century in the previous encounter almost batted through the innings scoring 115 off 112 balls while Sarkar put on a breathtaking display of strokeplay with his 92-ball 117-run knock.

That Bangladesh lost Liton Das in the first ball of their chase had no bearings on the approach of Sarkar and Kayes. The put on 220 runs in 29 overs, setting up the perfect platform for the chase. Bangladesh went to chase down the 287-run target in 42.1 overs.

Sarkar was adjudged Player of the Match. He hit as many as six sixes nine fours in his innings.

Earlier, Sean Williams struck an unbeaten hundred to guide Zimbabwe to 286 for 5. He hit a career-best 129 off 143 balls and shared 132 runs with Brendan Taylor for the third wicket -- helping Zimbabwe recover from 6-2 to post their highest score at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium after they were sent in.

Needing a  win to avoid a whitewash in the three-match series, Taylor made 75, his second successive fifty in the series, which came from 72 balls with eights fours and two sixes.

Williams -- who smashed 10 fours and a six in his second ODI hundred -- then added 84 runs with Sikandar Raza (40) for the fourth wicket after Taylor fell to left-arm spinner Nazmul Hossain.

Nazmul was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers with 2 for 58.

Bangladesh won the first two matches of the series by 28 runs and seven wickets respectively.