CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh,  (Reuters) – All-rounder Naeem  Islam held his nerve to score an unbeaten 73 from 90 balls and  lead Bangladesh to a one-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the  fifth one-day international yesterday. The hosts won the five-match series 4-1.

Naeem’s maiden one-day international half-century took his  team to 222 for nine from 49 overs after Zimbabwe had scored 221  for nine from their 50 overs. Brendon Taylor compiled an  unbeaten 118, his first one-day century. The right-hander struck medium-pacer Justice Chibhabha for  three sixes off consecutive deliveries in the 48th over after  Bangladesh had lost their ninth wicket for 187 runs.

Nazmul Hossain then scored just one run in a last wicket  partnership of 35 with Naeem.

Zimbabwe had looked set for a consolation victory after  Taylor’s lone battle against the Bangladesh spinners.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe innings
S. Masakadza c Zunaed b Razzak                               10
M. Vermuelen c Zunaed b Razzak                              7
B. Taylor not out                                                          118
E. Chigumbura c Rahim b Mahmud                        38
M. Waller b Mahmud                                                      0
S. Matsikenyeri st Rahim b Mahmud                       8
F. Mutizwa c & b Shakib                                                5
J. Chibhabha c Zunaed b Shakib                               0
G. Cremer b Shakib                                                      10
R. Price lbw b Razzak                                                  13
C. Mpofu not out                                                            0
Extras (lb-1 w-11)                                                       12
Total (nine wickets, 50 overs)                            221
Fall of wickets: 1-12 2-18 3-80 4-80 5-104 6-113 7-113 8-145 9-199
Bowling: Nazmul 10-2-27-0, Razzak 10-0-56-3, Shakib 10-1-29-3, Enamul 10-0-41-0, Mahmud 9-0-52-3, Naeem 1-0-15-0

Bangladesh innings
T. Iqbal run out                                                                   2
Z. Siddique c Waller b Mpofu                                      19
M. Ashraful run out                                                          5
R. Hassan st Taylor b Cremer                                     31
S. Hasan st Taylor b Matsikenyeri                            20
M. Ashraful c Cremer b Matsikenyeri                    23
M. Ullah run out                                                             33
N. Islam not out                                                             73
A. Razzak c Mutizwa b Chibhabha                             0
E. Haque lbw b Chibhabha                                           0
N. Hossain not out                                                           1
Extras (lb-6 w-8 nb-1)                                                 15
Total ( nine wickets, 49 overs)                             222
Fall of wickets: 1-8 2-42 3-75 4-102 5-105 6-174 7-179 8-179 9-187
Bowling: Mpofu 10-1-38-1 (w-3), Price 10-2-33-0 (w-2), Chigumbura 7-0-31-0 (w-1 nb-1), Chibhabha 7-1-52-2, Cremer 10-0-37-1, Matsikenyeri 5-0-25-2 (w-2)