Openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes hit 73 runs each to steer Bangladesh to a respectable 9-276 against Zimbabwe in Wednesday's third and final one-day international.
Iqbal and Kayes combined for a 147-run partnership after captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza elected to bat.
Mahmudullah scored 52, his first half-century since the World Cup, before he was run out on the second-last ball of the innings.
Mushfiqur Rahim added 28.
Bangladesh, aiming to sweep the series, would have expected to score 300-plus for the first time in the series after the start by Iqbal and Kayes on a pitch that was a batting paradise, but Zimbabwe fired back with a flurry of wickets.
The opening stand looked set to break the national record for the first wicket of 170 runs, until offspinner Sikandar Raza confused Kayes with a delivery that had slight turn. Regis Chakabva comfortably did the rest by stumping Kayes, who struck six fours and four sixes.
Iqbal, also comfortable, was undone by a googly from legspinner Graeme Cremer to be stumped at 2-173 after hitting six fours and one six in his 98-ball knock.
Mushfiqur Rahim, the mainstay of the middle order, attempted to keep pushing the score until he was also stumped for 28, attempting to charge offspinner Malcolm Waller.
Rahim's dismissal left the onus on out-of-form Mahmudullah to rally the side, but wickets tumbled around him with Zimbabwe's bowlers operating with renewed confidence.
He survived a run-out as Chakabva broke the stumps accidentally with his gloves before the fielder's direct throw hit them.
Chakabva was aware of his mistake, and pulled out the stump as Mahmudullah headed towards the dressing room. TV umpire Enamul Haque confirmed the error, but the Zimbabwe players looked displeased, and gathered in the centre of the ground. They broke up after a while.
Mahmudullah was finally run out, but his 52 off 40 balls was studded by five fours and a six, and put Bangladesh back on top.
Paceman Luke Jongwe and Cremer took two wickets apiece.
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