The roaring victory presented Bangladesh their first series triumph in the abridged version of the game as they overturned a 2-0 deficit to eventually seal it 3-2. The win came on the heels of their first Test series victory (1-0) against the same opponents.

Probably in a grand adios to the premier venue of the country, the Tigers chased Zimbabwe's modest 198 with exactly 17 overs to spare and at the cost of only two wickets.

Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar had a wish to successfully chase at least one game of the series and even he could not believe his own eyes the way in which Aftab Ahmed and Mohammad Rafique went about the final act.

The pair simply bulldozed the Zimbabwe attack in a magnificent second wicket stand of 150 in front of a packed to the rafters Big Bowl. The partnership was only the second best for any wicket behind a 170-run opening stand between Mehrab Hossain and Shahriar Hossain.

Aftab exhibited the best of his batting with a superb 81 not out while crowd favourite Rafique, the makeshift opener, was his entertaining self, smashing 72 off 66 balls.

Although Bangladesh lost in-form opener Nafees Iqbal in the third over, his Chittagong mate Aftab sent the crowd wild with delight with an array of exquisite shots to all parts.

The young right-hander, who was sadly run out in the previous match, clobbered 24 runs in one prodigal over off Elton Chigumbura. He smashed the first ball of the eighth over for a six to bring up Bangladesh's 50 off only 43 deliveries and the 100 came in whirlwind style in just 13 overs.

Aftab struck ten fours and two sixes in his 87-ball knock. Rafique, who opened the innings in place of injured Rajin Saleh, smashed seven fours and four huge sixes during the 150-run partnership that lasted 132 balls.

They surpassed the Tigers' previous best of 89 between Rajin and Aftab at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong against the same side in the third match.

Rafique finally departed mistiming an attempted pull and was caught at mid-wicket, leaving Bangladesh 38 runs away from a sweet series victory.

It then fell to captain Bashar to finish the chase with his sixth boundary in a quickfire 34 off 37 balls.

Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu must have thought that winning the toss was a good omen as the four previous games had gone to the team batting first.

But despite Barney Rogers scoring his third fifty in the series, Zimbabwe failed to capitalise on a good start against the three pronged left-arm spin attack of Rafique (2-34), Enamul Haque (2-39) and Manzarul Islam (1-21).

Zimbabwe lost their last seven wickets in the space of just eight overs adding 30 runs after Rogers and Brendan Taylor (36) put on 95 runs for the third wicket. Their last six batsmen added just 13 runs after Rogers departed for 84.