Kieswetter century completes England whitewash

(GETTY IMAGES)

Craig Kieswetter delivered a maiden international century as England completed a series whitewash over Bangladesh with a 45-run win in the third one-day international.

Kieswetter's 107 was more measured than his reputation as a power hitter might suggest, but after his first 50 occupied 80 balls he took just 41 to convert his half-century into a full one, with nine fours and three mighty sixes along the way.

There was also some explosive late hitting from Luke Wright (32 not out in 13 deliveries) as the tourists posted 284 for five having lost the toss.

Bangladesh's reply suffered from the regular tumble of wickets and closed on 239 for nine, with Tim Bresnan returning four for 28.

Debutant Ajmal Shahzad was handed the new ball and, just as he did on his Twenty20 bow in Dubai last month, obliged with a wicket in his first over.

Tamim Iqbal, who blazed 125 in the series opener in Dhaka, was the man out for a duck, slashing to Bresnan at third man.

Imrul Kayes brought him back to earth with exquisite drives for four off the front and back foot before hooking Bresnan for another boundary.

Bresnan continued to bound in and was rewarded with the wicket of Imrul (17), caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior after thrashing outside off stump.

Chittagong native Aftab Ahmed offered a return catch to Shahzad on 26 but made a further 20 before a horribly mis-judged single saw him run out.

Mushfiqur Rahim, all gentle flicks and scampered singles, played his part in the pair's 56-run stand before welcoming skipper Shakib Al Hasan to the middle.

But Mushfiqur fell for 40 when he attempted to inject some power into his innings, succeeding only in lifting Graeme Swann to deep mid-wicket.

Shakib (38) moved his side beyond 150 with consecutive fours off Paul Collingwood, one a cheeky, pre-meditated paddle over the wicketkeeper.

But he was out sweeping in the 34th over, a poor lbw decision giving Kevin Pietersen a rare success with the ball to leave the hosts five down.

When Collingwood's 10-over spell came to an end, Swann's return meant spin from both ends - a tactic that frustrated Mahmudullah's search for much-needed boundaries.

With 10 overs left and five wickets in hand, the batting side still required a hefty 95.

Naeem Islam (17) and Mahmudullah (33) paid the price for going aerial as they tried in vain to make inroads.

Bresnan picked up his third and fourth wickets when he picked off Suhrawordi and Shafiul Islam in the space of three balls in the 47th over.

Earlier Kieswetter justified the decision to belatedly add him to the touring party with a hard-working first competitive ton in England colours following two modest displays.

The 22-year-old, making his third ODI appearance, looks most at home when facing the quick men, a fact that has made his job a hard one in a series where the opposition regularly call on a quintet of slow bowlers.

But he dug in well after a nervy opening period and laboured to a gutsy, rather than glamourous, fifty.

Having passed that landmark the opener began to free his arms.

That renewed aggression, coupled with the fielding restrictions enforced by the batting powerplay, helped him canter to three figures after just 41 additional deliveries.

Captain Alastair Cook scored 32 in a 59-run opening stand with Kieswetter and looked likely to post a third successive 50 since being handed the captaincy.

Instead, his opposite number Shakib found a little extra bounce to have him caught at the wicket by Mushfiqur.

Pietersen failed to put an end to the question marks over his recent form, making a subdued 22 before falling lbw to Abdur Razzak for the second match in a row.

Collingwood and Eoin Morgan, the England match-winners in the first and second games, each made 36.

Collingwood looked a little out of rhythm before holing out to Suhrawordi, while Morgan rode his luck with two drops before Shafiul dismissed him.

Wright gave the England innings a healthy boost at the close, hammering two sixes and two fours in his thrilling cameo.