CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh completed their first ever 3-0 series sweep, and only their third ever series victory, as they cruised to a 186-run win over Zimbabwe on the fifth day of the third Test yesterday.

Zimbabwe were bowled out for 262 chasing an unlikely 449 runs for victory as the Bangladeshi bowlers put up a disciplined and accurate performance to pick up wickets at regular intervals on the final day.

It was the only third time Bangladesh have won a Test series after a 1-0 series win against the same opponents in 2005 and a 2-0 victory over the West Indies in 2009.

“Right from the start we believed we could win it by 3-0,” Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said.

Regis Chakabva offered some resistance and scored an unbeaten 89 with seven fours and a six as he led Zimbabwe’s slim hopes of saving the Test and avoiding a series whitewash.

Sikandar Raza scored a fluent 65, while Hamilton Masakadza made 38, but Zimbabwe lacked a long partnership to anchor the innings and lost their last three wickets for just one run as the tea-break approached.

“Bangladesh have played better cricket so we got to give them credit for that,” Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor said.

Overnight unbeaten batsmen Raza and Masakadza started the day confidently after Zimbabwe resumed at 71-1.

Raza brought up his second fifty in the Test with a boundary against Shuvagata Hom to be the first Zimbabwe opener to hit a half-century in both innings of a Test since 2001.

Part time off-spinner Shuvagata Hom, however, put Bangladesh on top in the morning session.

Hom made the breakthrough, dismissing Hamilton Masakadza with a slower delivery and then followed it with the crucial wicket of Raza from a full toss.

Raza, after playing confidently throughout his innings, offered a simple catch to Taijul Islam at mid-wicket after hitting nine fours and two sixes in his 75-ball knock.

Leg-spinner Jubair Hossain then removed Taylor for 24 and Elton Chigumbura (5) in quick succession to help Bangladesh edge closer to the historic milestone.

Regis Chakabva delayed the inevitable, while Craig Ervine also looked confident until a superb ripper from Mhamudullah trapped him lbw on 16.

Bangladesh won the first Test by three wickets and the second by 162 runs to send Zimbabwe to the bottom of the ICC Test rankings.