Bangladesh seal first ODI series win over Australia

DHAKA: Bangladesh secured their first One-day International series victory over Australia after beating the visitors by five wickets in the second match on Thursday, taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match contest.

In a rain-affected game, Bangladesh were set a revised target of 192 in 41 overs under the DLS method and reached 195-5 in 35 overs, finishing the chase with 36 balls left. Towhid Hridoy made an unbeaten 40, while captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz stayed not out on 22 as the pair added an unbroken 51 runs to guide the side home in Dhaka.

The result also gave Bangladesh a fifth successive home ODI series win, following earlier series victories against Sri Lanka, West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand. Bangladesh vice-captain Najmul Hossain said the team’s recent work had paid off.

"It’s an amazing feeling, the way we played this series, we showed a lot of courage," Najmul added. "We have been working really hard in the last few months and the way we played he last two matches, it’s outstanding. I’m really proud to be a part of this team."

Bangladesh recover after early setback

Bangladesh lost Tanzid Hasan in the opening over, but Najmul and Soumya Sarkar rebuilt the innings with an 86-run stand for the second wicket. Both batters scored 42 before falling in quick succession, with Matt Renshaw dismissing Soumya and Riley Meredith removing Najmul.

Litton Das then made 21 before he was dismissed by Cameron Green, while Mosaddek Hossain contributed 15 and was sent back by Adam Zampa. With the innings briefly under pressure, Towhid and Mehidy completed the chase without further damage.

Australia rescued from 0-3 but fall short

Earlier, Australia were bowled out of rhythm at the start and slipped to 0-3 inside two overs, only the fourth time in ODI history that a side had lost three wickets without scoring. Taskin Ahmed removed Matthew Short for the second match in a row, while Mustafizur Rahman struck twice in the next over as Cooper Connolly and Renshaw both departed for ducks.

Alex Carey was then caught at point off Mustafizur for 13. Josh Inglis scored 34 and Cameron Green made 25, but both fell before Australia were reduced to 81-6, with spinner Tanvir Islam taking two of those wickets.

Marnus Labuschagne, who remained unbeaten on 55, and Xavier Bartlett, who made 52, repaired the innings with a 103-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Taskin returned in his third spell to dismiss Bartlett and then bowled Adam Zampa off the next ball, although Nathan Ellis survived the hat-trick delivery. Australia finished on 187-8 in 42 overs after rain cut short their innings.

Mustafizur and Taskin claimed three wickets each for Bangladesh, while Tanvir took two. Mustafizur was named player of the match. Australia, missing several leading players, have now lost back-to-back ODI series after a 2-1 defeat against Pakistan earlier this month.