Bangladesh ended a gruelling four-month home season with a rare Test

and one-day international series triumph over Zimbabwe on the last day of January. B

The Tigers prepared for hosting four nations during a hectic schedule but were relieved after Sri Lanka's tour in November was cancelled.

After a meek surrender to New Zealand in October, the home side began to get its act together in the series against mighty India where they were trounced in both Tests but showed signs of improvement.

The one-day series against the Indians was by no means one-sided as Bangladesh for the first time defeated their neighbours to square the series 1-1. Though Habibul Bashar's men lost the ODI series, their maiden home victory in the shorter-version of the game seemed to be a perfect tonic ahead of the eagerly awaited series against Zimbabwe.

Having won the Test series 1-0, the hosts were brought down to earth by Tatenda Taibu's young and experienced side who stormed to a 2-0 lead in the five-match limited-overs series.

However, Bashar's side refused to just sit back and let Taibu take the

trophy. Amazingly, they won all remaining three games to pull off one of the most remarkable fightbacks in the history of one-day cricket.

The series was dominated by youngsters on either side.

Aftab Ahmed, who had been struggling early in the series but never lost the faith of the selectors, finished atop the Bangladesh batting following his masterful 81 not out in the decisive fifth match. The young Chittagong right-hander totalled 179 runs at an average of 44.75.

Only Barney Rogers, the Zimbabwean left-handed opener who had a dream run and was adjudged man-of-the-series, scored more runs (251) and finished with a better average (50.20).

Bashar and Taibu, the two opposing captains, played their part too finishing among the top four batters.

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Manzarul Islam, ignored at the start of the one-dayers, bagged the highest number of wickets with nine from three games. But his senior spin partner Mohammad Rafique, who sat out the first three contests due to injury, however, finished with the best average.