Bangladesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan grabbed three quick wickets before the third and final one-day international against India was called off due to persistent rain. Shakib, 27, unravelled India's middle order after the fast bowlers had the visitors reeling at 13-3 in the day-night clash at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka.
But rain had the final say in the game which was abandoned with India 119-9 off 34.2 overs after electing to bat. India pocketed the series 2-0, having won the first two games by seven wickets and 47 runs respectively. Indian skipper Suresh Raina said he was pleased with the way the youngsters in the side were shaping up ahead of next year's World Cup being hosted by Australia and New Zealand. "We played good cricket, especially when you know World Cup is coming up. A lot of youngsters showed character," he said after the match.
"I am very happy with the side, especially Stuart Binny, who bowled really well along side Mohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav (in the previous game)." The match was initially reduced to 40-overs-a-side but frequent rain interruptions left the umpires with no option but to call it off. The Indians were off to a shaky start with both the openers being sent back cheaply by fast bowlers Al-Amin Hossain (2-23) and Mashrafe Mortaza (1-25). Teenage paceman Taskin Ahmed, who picked 5-28 on debut in the second ODI on Tuesday, took a wicket off his first ball to send back Ambati Rayudu for one.
Taskin, 19, also dismissed Akshar Patel to finish with figures of 2-15. "The wicket was helping but you still have to bowl in good areas, so credit goes to our pace bowlers, especially Taskin and Al-Amin," said skipper Rahim. Raina appeared in fine form, hitting Al-Amin for three fours in an over to race to a run-a-ball 25 before he was caught behind off left-arm spinner Shakib. Shakib would have picked a fourth wicket but his appeal for leg before wicket against Cheteshwar Pujara was turned down despite TV replays suggesting the ball would have hit stumps. Raina added 41 runs for the fifth wicket with Pujara (27), the highest of the innings.