The Tigers might have lost their final NatWest series game against Australia by six wickets, but not before they gave the world champions a real scare 12 days after their historic 5-wicket triumph at Cardiff's Sophia Gardens.

In the end it looked easy for Australia as they toppled Bangladesh's 250-8 with 11 balls to spare. But it was tough going when they lost three wickets for 82.

Michael Clarke, who hit the winning runs off the first ball of the penultimate over bowled by Mohammad Ashraful, scored an unbeaten 80. Andrew Symonds was 42 not out at the other end. Ricky Ponting scored a captain's knock of 66 after opener Adam Glichrist had hammered a breezy 36-ball 45.

But Bangladesh can be proud especially with the way they came back from a bad start. Opener Shahriar Nafees led the fight back with his maiden fifty and wicket-keeper batsman Khaled Mashud hit a career-best 71.

Shahriar scored a solid 75 after Bangladesh had lost three wickets for 19 runs. The elegant left-hander has been a revelation in the one-day series for Bangladesh. He hit three fours in a confident innings and was later adjudged man-of-the-match.

" I was surprised when I was nominated man-of-the-match ahead of Clarke. But I'm happier to have contributed when the team needed it most," said Shahriar after the match.

The 19-year-old showed that he has a mature head on his shoulder and did not try anything silly after his experienced opening partner Javed Omar (0), Tushar Imran (0) and Mohammad Ashraful (7) had departed in quick succession.

Shahriar led the recovery operation with Mashud after skipper Habibul Bashar's cameo 24-ball 30, that featured four boundaries in one over against Brett Lee had come to an abrupt end thanks to an unplayable snorter from Shane Watson.

Together they put on 96 for the sixth wicket after Aftab Ahmed (7) had edged the first ball after the first drinks break leaving Bangladesh at 75-5.

Shahriar completed his 50 off 82 balls. He was eventually out in the 37th over while trying to glide the ball past Gilchrist.

Mashud, who scored an unbeaten 42 in the previous game against England at Headingley, played the best one-day knock of his life. His little improvisations helped Bangladesh score 72 runs in the last ten overs with 43 coming in the final five.

Mohammad Rafique (15 off 13) hit Watson for the second six in the innings after Ashraful's magnificent pull over square leg against Lee.

Mahmud scored a run-a-ball 22 before he was out in the final ball of the innings.

Bangladesh will leave London for Dhaka on July 2 but Bashar will not be on that flight.

"I'm going to meet my brother in the US after eight years. This is also the first time I will not go home straight after a series. But I'm sure the 14 hour flight back will not be as boring as they usually have been for the most of my teammates," said Bashar.