CHITTAGONG: Having won their third-ever Test cricket series, Bangladesh want to compound Zimbabwe’s misery by achieving a first 3-0 series whitewash when the last match starts here on Wednesday.

Bangladesh won the first Test in three days in Dhaka, and the second by 162 runs in Khulna last week, adding to a 1-0 two-Test series win against the same team in 2005.

Bangladesh have swept a series only once in their 14-year Test history when they defeated an under-strength West Indies in both matches in the Caribbean in 2009.

“It’s a rare situation for us,” Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the Test in the port city. “I can’t remember when we were last in such a good position.

“They will come hard in the third match, as they have already gained much knowledge about the conditions,” Mushfiqur said of Zimbabwe. “But our target is to make it 3-0, and if we play to our strength, it will not be impossible.”

In the 87 Tests they have played so far since their debut in 2000, Bangladesh have won just six matches, lost 70 and drawn 11.

Zimbabwe have yielded to spin in the matches, and Bangladesh may field only one fast bowler because the Chittagong pitch tends to become slow and low.

“There is a possibility of taking one pace bowler, since the Chittagong wicket always tends to be favourable for the spinners,” Mushfiqur said. “There is not much bounce for the pacers. We’ll take an extra batsman if we field one pacer. Our three spinners have done well.”

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor hoped his batsmen and bowlers will shine together to reverse the team’s fortunes.

“We had our bowling go well in the first Test and the batting did its bit in the second,” he said. “If we can be a little more consistent and put those things together, we will be more of a threat.”

Bangladeshi spinners have taken 36 of Zimbabwe’s 40 wickets, with Shakib Al Hasan leading the way with 17. His fellow left-arm spinner Taijul Islam has 15, and leg-spinner Jubair Hossain four.

Shakib, who became the third cricketer in Test history to score a century and haul in 10 wickets in the last Test, was simply unplayable for the Zimbabwe batsmen.

But Zimbabwe still hope to nullify his threat, win the Test, and regain some form for the five-match One-day International series.

“We discussed in the team meeting how to find ways to counter him [Shakib],” Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza said. “Even before coming into the Test, we knew he will be a great threat.”

Masakadza has resisted the spin confidently, and hit a career-best 158 in the first innings of the second Test last week. He followed it with 61 in the second innings.

Teams (from):

BANGLADESH: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Jubair Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Marshall Ayub, Anamul Haque.

ZIMBABWE: Sikandar Raza, Brian Chari, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor (captain), Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura, Regis Chakabva, Malcolm Waller, Tendai Chatara, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Shingi Masakadza, Wellington Masakadza, Natsai Mushangwe, Richmond Mutumbami, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand).

TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka).

Match referee: Chris Broad (England).

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2014