Sports desk:

Bangladesh skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanto fought a lone battle in their third and final one-day international against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka as the Tigers were bowled out for a meagre 171 in their bout to avoid a series defeat.

Bangladesh currently trail the three-match series 1-0.

Shanto, appointed captain for this match, scored 76 as no other batsman scored anything substantial to provide Bangladesh with a strong total.

Both the openers, Zakir Hasan (1) and Tanzid Hasan Tamim (5) were out within the third over, and Towhid Hridoy (18) also departed by the end of the first powerplay.

Shanto built a 53-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim (18) to try and steady the ship but then the latter was dismissed in a hilarious manner to end the stand. Mushfiq tried to defend a good length delivery from Lockie Ferguson, which hit the bat and seemed to be heading towards the stumps.

Seeing this, Mushfiq tried to kick the ball away but the ball hit the stumps anyway, and so did Mushfiq’s leg, and the batsman was given out bowled.

Shanto, though, kept going on his purple patch, scoring his third 50+ knock in a row, and also scored the highest individual score by a Bangladesh skipper on his ODI captaincy debut, breaking Aminul Islam’s 25-year-old record of 70.

Mahmudullah (21) was caught behind off Adam Milne, and Shak Mahedi Hasan suffered the same fate against Trent Boult.

Shanto was then trapped LBW trying to reverse sweep Cole McConchie, and after his dismissal, Bangladesh could only add three runs to their total to get bundled out for 171.