Cricket:Michael Hussey's majestic century and Shane Watson's all-round performance helped Australia to a 66-run victory over Bangladesh in the third One-Day International in Mirpur to wrap up a 3-0 series win.
Hussey scored 108 off 91 balls after a breezy 40-ball 72 early on from Watson, who completed his impressive outing by claiming two wickets as Bangladesh finished on 295 for six in reply to Australia’s imposing 361 for eight.
Bangladesh raised hopes of a chase initially, but faltered once opener Imrul Kayes (93 off 95 balls) departed and the remaining batsmen wilted under the pressure brought about by the Australian total.
Batting first after winning the toss, Watson and Ricky Ponting the former captain opening in the absence of Brad Haddin brought up the visiting side’s 100 in 10 overs.
But just when the Queenslander appeared to be blazing to his second century in three days on the back of his monumental 185 off 95 balls, Razzak got the first of his three wickets by cleaning up Watson and soon added the scalp of Ponting (47).
Bangladesh pulled back further when Steven Smith was caught and bowled by Suhrawadi Shuvo in the 19th over as Australia were pegged back to 142 for three.
After those three wickets in seven overs, Michael Clarke and Hussey dug in for the next hour and switched gears once Australia reached 200 in the 31st over.
Skipper Clarke missed out on a half-century by three runs but the 89-run stand set Australia up for a late onslaught.
Mitchell Johnson blazed 41 off 24 balls and John Hastings clubbed 21 from nine in an entertaining cameo, while Hussey unleashed a flurry of boundaries to bring up his third one-day hundred off just 86 balls before Shafiul Islam trapped him lbw in the last over of the innings.
In reply, opener Kayes led a feisty Bangladesh response, helping his side to 100 by the 16th over after losing his partner Tamim Iqbal, who made a carefree 32 from 17 balls.
Kayes kept the Tigers in the hunt with a stand of 136 in 158 balls with Shahriar Nafees and reached his ninth ODI half-century off as many balls to give Australia a scare.
Kayes, who hit 10 fours and two sixes, looked set for a well-deserved century when debutant paceman James Pattinson had him caught behind seven runs short of the mark.
Nafees (50 off 77 balls) threw his wicket away despite being dropped by Smith off his own bowling in the previous over but Mahmudullah and Shakib al Hasan took the Tigers past 200 in the 36th over.
With the asking rate shooting above 11, though, the pair had no other option but to play risky shots and Shakib and new man Mushfiqur Rahim departed in the same Watson over.
Mahmudullah battled on in pursuit of an improbable victory and brought up a run-a-ball half-century in vain before Alok Kapali was snared by Johnson, who finished with figures of three for 67.
Mahmudullah (68 off 61) found the fence with regularity towards the end but by then it was all but over for Bangladesh.