Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, 2014-15

	The victorious Bangladesh team after completing a 3-0 whitewash © BCB Enlarge
Related Links Series/Tournaments: Zimbabwe tour of Bangladesh Teams: Bangladesh | Zimbabwe

Test matches (3): Bangladesh 3, Zimbabwe 0
One-day internationals (5): Bangladesh 5, Zimbabwe 0

Bangladesh ended a difficult year on a high, with a double whitewash of Zimbabwe. The First Test at Mirpur was a see-saw affair, but after that it was one-way traffic. By the end the tourists looked as if they were counting the days until they could go home. Bangladesh's only previous Test whitewash had been in the Caribbean in 2009, when they won both matches against a depleted West Indies. But now they won three Tests in a row for the first time - it was only their third three-match series - thanks mainly to the spinners, who claimed 49 wickets. Zimbabwe's less experienced slow men could manage only 19, while off-spinner Malcolm Waller was reported for a suspect action after the Second Test.

The leading wicket-taker was Shakib Al Hasan, back in favour after a suspension for disciplinary reasons, although fellow slow left-armer Taijul Islam overshadowed him in the First Test with eight for 39, Bangladesh's best figures. Jubair Hossain, only 19 and the first specialist leg-spinner to play a Test for Bangladesh, made a useful start, claiming a five-for at Chittagong. He had played only two first-class matches before his call-up.

Shakib shone with the bat as well, hitting a sparkling century in the Second Test before claiming ten wickets. He also became only the second player to score 250 runs and take 15 wickets in a three-Test series, after Mitchell Johnson for Australia in South Africa in 2008-09.

Tamim Iqbal made disciplined centuries in the last two Tests, although he was outscored overall by Mominul Haque, who was only once dismissed for fewer than 35. By the end of the series Mominul's Test average was 63, behind only Don Bradman among batsmen who had played more than ten Tests.

The one-day series was even more lop-sided, with only the fourth match being remotely close. Shakib again led the way, with 11 wickets, although Arafat Sunny - yet another slow left-armer - took ten at 7.80. Mashrafe bin Mortaza, back as the one-day captain, stayed fit throughout, and claimed nine wickets. Shakib made the only hundred in the one-dayers, although Mushfiqur Rahim scored the most runs (213).

There were some consolations for Zimbabwe. The burly Hamilton Masakadza - one of three brothers in the squad - was the leading scorer on either side in the Tests, while Regis Chakabva also hit more than 300 runs, including his maiden century. The medium-pace all-rounder Solomon Mire enjoyed a promising start in the one-day series, making two fifties and taking three for 49 in that close-run fourth game. But it was a sobering trip, for which coach Stephen Mangongo paid with his job: he was replaced shortly after the team returned home.

The Bangladesh board left little to chance, even shelling out for DRS for the first time, which affected the profit from a tour by low-key opponents.

Match reports for

Tour Match: Bangladesh Cricket Board XI v Zimbabweans at Fatullah, Oct 20-22, 2014
Scorecard

1st Test: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Mirpur, Oct 25-27, 2014
Report | Scorecard

2nd Test: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Khulna, Nov 3-7, 2014
Report | Scorecard

3rd Test: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Chattogram, Nov 12-16, 2014
Report | Scorecard

Tour Match: Bangladesh Cricket Board XI v Zimbabweans at Chattogram, Nov 19, 2014
Scorecard

1st ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Chattogram, Nov 21, 2014
Report | Scorecard

2nd ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Chattogram, Nov 23, 2014
Report | Scorecard

3rd ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Mirpur, Nov 26, 2014
Report | Scorecard

4th ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Mirpur, Nov 28, 2014
Report | Scorecard

5th ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Mirpur, Dec 1, 2014
Report | Scorecard