Bangladesh had earlier clinched one-day series against minnows Zimbabwe and a depleted West Indies, but it was their first series victory against a big team, thanks to skipper Shakib.
Shakib, 23, was key to Bangladesh’s victory before a sizeable crowd at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, hitting a 113-ball 106 for his fifth one-day hundred to help his side post 241.
New Zealand were bowled out for 232 in the last over, with middle-order batsman Kane Williamson posing a major threat to Bangladesh’s total with a fighting 108 for his maiden one-day hundred.
“I think we have played great cricket throughout the series. We have shown great character,” said Shakib, named man of the match.
“Williamson batted well. I think I batted sensibly and didn’t take too many risks. But I do need to work on my bowling as I haven’t bowled as well as I would have liked.”
Williamson, 20, also became the youngest New Zealand player to hit a one-day hundred. He cracked two sixes and six fours in his 132-ball knock.
Batting with a runner because of cramp in the later part of his innings, Williamson added 70 for the sixth wicket with Grant Elliott (22) and 53 for the eighth with Nathan McCullum (33).
New Zealand suffered a setback when McCullum was run out in the 49th over.
They needed 16 to win in the last over, but could manage only six as Williamson
was the last man out, caught in the deep off seamer Shaiful Islam.
Shakib used his spinners well, and himself was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 54 runs with his left-arm spin.
He pressed his slow bowlers early into the attack, and the move instantly clicked as left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak dismissed opener Bradley-John Watling (six) in his second over.
Spinners Mohammad Mahmudullah and Suhrawadi Shuvo got a wicket apiece.
“Bangladesh have played better cricket than us and deserved the victory,” said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.
“They (Bangladesh) have shown us how to play in these conditions. Kane’s hundred is the positive to take out from this game. We should have adapted quicker than we have. We must restore some pride in the last game.”
Shakib earlier put on 53 for the fourth wicket with Imrul Kayes (37), 51 for the next with Mushfiqur Rahim (13) and 68 for the sixth with Mahmudullah (37) after paceman Kyle Mills had rocked the hosts with a double strike.
Mills removed opener Shahriar Nafees and Junaid Siddique in his opening three overs to reduce Bangladesh to 44-3, but Shakib steadied the innings with a responsible knock on a slow track.
Shakib hit the match’s first six, hoisting Mills over long-on. He completed his century in the 41st over, flicking left-arm spinner Vettori for his 11th boundary.
He fell in the 43rd over, giving a return catch to Vettori after hitting one six and 11 fours.
Debutant seamer Hamish Bennett finished 3-44, while Vettori, Daryl Tuffey and Mills each took two wickets.
DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi’s stunning century was in vain as Sri Lanka claimed a 16-run win on Tuesday in the opening match of the Asia Cup.After the Sri Lankans had made a competitive 242-9 from their 50 overs, Pakistan’s top order imploded to leave Afridi the difficult task of guiding his team home.
The allrounder fought off the effects of cramp — which forced him to limp for his runs — to make 109 off 76 balls before he was snared by offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who struggled to contain the inspired Afridi throughout his innings.
Lasith Malinga then cleaned up the tail to finish with figures of 5-34 off his 10 overs, with Pakistan falling just short of the victory target. It was the seamer’s maiden five-wicket haul.
Malinga gave the host the ideal start by bowling opener Sulman Butt (0) with an inswinger on the ninth delivery of the day.
Unrelenting pressure by the Sri Lankan seamers saw three more wickets go down — Shahzaib Hasan (11), Umar Amin (7) and Shoaib Malik (8) — to leave Pakistan on 32-4.
Afridi came to the crease and started the counterattack with two consecutive sixes off seam bowler Farveez Maharoof. Afridi and Umar Akmal (30) shared a 73-run partnership to raise the team’s hopes.
Afridi was particularly severe on Muralitharan, hitting him for five of his seven sixes, while he also hit eight fours in a sublime knock.
Muralitharan, the world’s most prolific wicket-taker, went for 71 runs in his 10 overs but did take the prized scalp of Afridi.
Afridi fell to the ground after playing some of his shots and the team’s medical staff had to attend to him at least three times on the field. Strangely, though, a runner was not used and it was not immediately clear if a request was denied by the umpires or the opposing captain.
After the departure of Afridi, Malinga wrapped up the innings by bowling Mohammad Aamer (5) and Mohammad Asif (0), and also had Shoaib Akhtar (1) caught.
Earlier, Akhtar celebrated his return to international cricket with 3-41 to help restrict Sri Lanka, who had good knocks from Angelo Mathews (55 not out) and former captain Mahela Jayawardene (54).
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara’s decision to bat first in the day-night encounter at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium paid off when his openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (18) and Upul Tharanga (11) got off to a promising start.
Akhtar, playing his first match for Pakistan in 13 months after injuries, then intervened to reduce the Sri Lankans to 36-2.
Sangakkara (42 from 63 balls) and Jayawardene salvaged the innings with a sensible 83-run partnership for the third wicket, off 103 balls.
Jayawardene was given out lbw but television replays showed the ball hit the bat before hitting his pads. His 53rd limited-overs half-century included three boundaries.
Jayawardene’s dismissal made it 150-4 and triggered a mini-collapse, Sri Lanka losing four wickets for 18 runs.
Mathews joined tailender Nuwan Kulasekara (14) and repaired the innings with a 43-run partnership. He faced 61 balls and hit four boundaries.
Sri Lanka is looking for a third consecutive Asia Cup title, having won the previous two editions — in 2004 and 2008. Pakistan was last crowned Asian champion a decade ago.
India and Bangladesh are the other teams participating in the tournament. -AP
Scores: Sri Lanka 242-9 in 50 overs (M. Jayawardene 54, A. Mathews 55 not out; Shoaib Akhtar 3-41) v Pakistan 226 all out in 47 overs (S. Afridi 109; L. Malinga 5-34)
Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (capt), Salman Butt, Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Shoaib Akhtar.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Billy Doctrove (WIS)
TV umpire: Sanjay Hazare (IND)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Afridi ended his self exile from test cricket last week. Known for his outstanding batting performances, Afridi has scored five centuries in his Test career with the highest score being 156 runs.
Pakistan will play two Test matches against Australia and four against England during their three-month long tour of Britain.
The seasoned all-rounder who is better known for his explosive batting said he would like to bat on sixth position in the Tests batting line-up to focus more on his bowling.
“I will focus more on my bowling as I think I can contribute more in that department than batting in the longer version of game,” said Afridi.
Afridi who last played a Test in 2006 in Manchester made it clear he would not be hesitant to take a U-turn if he fails to shine in this format.
“If I would not be able to perform satisfactorily then I would prefer leaving my place for a younger player.”
He said he returned to Tests because he wanted to help his team which is in turmoil due to absence of senior players.
“Absence of senior players forced me to rethink my decision to play test cricket.
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