Tigers clinch first-ever ODI series triumph over Aussies
Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman tore through Australia’s top order with a fiery spell before Soumya Sarkar and Towhid Hridoy steadied the chase to seal Bangladesh’s historic series win.
Bangladesh have clinched their first-ever ODI series victory over Australia, winning the second ODI by five wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method and taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Australia, who won the toss and elected to bat first at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today (11 June), managed to put 187 for 8 on the scoreboard in 42 overs before rain intervened.
The visitors suffered a catastrophic start, losing three wickets without scoring a single run inside the first two overs — Matthew Short, Cooper Connolly, and Matt Renshaw all falling for ducks.
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Alex Carey added 13 before departing, leaving Australia reeling at 25-4 in the seventh over.
Josh Inglis (34) and Cameron Green (25) steadied the innings somewhat, but it was a lower-order revival that gave Australia any respectability.
Marnus Labuschagne held firm with an unbeaten 55 off 85 balls, while Xavier Bartlett blazed 52 off 48 — including four fours and two sixes — to add 103 runs for the seventh wicket and lift Australia past 180.
Taskin Ahmed was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with 3-33 in eight overs, while Mustafizur Rahman claimed 3-27 in seven. Tanvir Islam chipped in with 2-45.
Bangladesh chased down the revised target of 192 to complete the historic series victory with five wickets in hand when rain ended play for the second time.
Chasing a revised target, Bangladesh recovered from the early loss of Tanzid Hasan Tamim and were guided by useful contributions throughout the top and middle order.
Soumya Sarkar struck 42 off 47 balls, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto added 41 from 53 deliveries.
Towhid Hridoy anchored the chase with an unbeaten 40 off 55 balls, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz remained not out on 22 as Bangladesh reached 195-5 in 35 overs before rain brought an early end to the match, sealing a five-wicket victory under the DLS method.
Bangladesh now lead the three-match series 2-0, with the final ODI set to be held on 14 June.
