Lynn McConnell at AMI Stadium
It was symbolic that a lame James Franklin hit the winning runs after a limp New Zealand batting effort finally produced a three-wicket win, and a 3-0 clean sweep over Bangladesh at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Thursday.
New Zealand faced a target of 242 but in spite of a fine 91 from Martin Guptill it made heavy weather of completing its task in the 45th over.
Franklin, batting with Ross Taylor as a runner, scored 19 not out while Ian Butler was 13 not out.
It was a game in which the visitors attended to improving their record books in clashes with New Zealand. Its total of 241-9 was its highest against New Zealand, century-maker Imrul Kayes scored the first Bangladesh century against NZ and skipper Shakib Al Hasan's 4-33 was the second-best Bangladesh bowling performance against NZ.
Guptill had seemed set for his second ODI century but on 91 he picked out Tamim Iqbal on the long off boundary and was caught. It was the only chance he had given in another demonstration of his class. He hit three big sixes and nine fours in his run-a-ball innings.
However, it was a frustrating night for several of the side's batsmen. Brendon McCullum looked set to tear the visiting attack apart as he raced to 19 from 18 balls, including two sixes pulled into the new Deans Stand.
But he paid the price for a cross-batted heave at a ball from Rubel Hossain and played the ball on to leave New Zealand 37 for one. Peter Ingram was the first of Shakib's victims when he played the wrong line to a turning ball from the left-armer and he was bowled for 25.
Ross Taylor looked out of sorts and when he had taken nine balls to score three, he walked past the 10th to be stumped well out of his ground and New Zealand was 89-3.
Vettori (34 from 36) had taken 14 runs from Mahmudallah's over but was then caught on the mid-wicket boundary looking to make it 20 from the over. Neil Broom kept the innings moving but on 18 he fell into the same trap as Ingram and was bowled.
Jacob Oram hit one booming straight six from Naeem Islam's spin but then turned the next ball straight to Shakib at mid-on.
Kayes passed the 86 scored by Mushfiqur Rahim in Dunedin on Monday and posted his century off 134 balls with 11 boundaries. He became only the eighth Bangladesh batsman to score an ODI century, and it was the 17th instance of an ODI century for the side.
It was an impressive display, notable for the deft placement he employed, and while he diced with the areas on either side of wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, he generally ensured the ball was put to ground quickly to avoid the chance of a catch.
Initially, Kayes helped Mohammad Mashraful add 58 to pick up the innings after it was 41-2, and then he added 84 with captain Shakib Al Hasan who hit 36 from 48 balls.
But the return of New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori to the bowling crease saw the scoring rate slow and the pressure increase on the batsmen with Vettori trapping Mushfiqur leg before wicket for four and bowling Mahmudullah for six.
And then a faster arm ball from Vettori saw Kayes bowled for 101 in the 48th