Bangladesh down Australia in 2nd ODI to script historic series win

Bowlers laid the foundation and the batters held their nerve as Bangladesh scripted history, beating Australia by five wickets via DLS method in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday to seal their first-ever ODI series win over the Aussies.

Pace spearheads Mustafizur Rahman (3-27) and Taskin Ahmed (3-33) starred with three wickets apiece, while left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam claimed two as Bangladesh restricted Australia to 187-8 in 42 overs before rain interrupted play. Following the delay, the target was revised to 192 in 42 overs under the DLS method, which the Tigers chased down with six overs to spare.

An 86-run partnership between Soumya Sarkar (42 off 47) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (42 off 53) anchored the chase before Tawhid Hridoy guided Bangladesh home with an unbeaten 40 off 55 balls. Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided valuable support at the other end with a composed run-a-ball 22. 

The hosts were rocked early when pacer Xavier Bartlett dismissed opener Tanzid Tamim in the very first over. However, Soumya and Shanto steadied the ship with an 86-run partnership, keeping the chase firmly on track.

Soumya fell to part-time off-spinner Matt Renshaw in the 16th over, before Shanto edged Riley Meredith behind two overs later as Bangladesh suffered a brief wobble. Litton Das looked in fine touch and raced to 21 off 18 balls, but Cameron Green struck in the 24th over to leave the Tigers at 122-4.

Mosaddek Hossain chipped in with a brisk 15 off 14 deliveries before becoming Adam Zampa's lone wicket of the innings. Hridoy, meanwhile, was characteristically sluggish at the start but eventually made up ground, anchoring the chase with an his unbeaten knock and guiding Bangladesh to a memorable victory. 

Earlier, Australia slumped to three wickets for no runs inside the first two overs, becoming only the fourth team in ODI history to lose three wickets before getting off the mark and the first Australian side to endure such a collapse.

Taskin removed Matthew Short for the second time in as many matches in the series, the opener shouldering arms to an in-swinger that came back sharply to uproot his stumps.

Mustafizur then struck twice in the second over, drawing outside edges from left-handers Cooper Connolly and Renshaw.

Alex Carey was caught at point off Mustafizur for 13.

Skipper Josh Inglis, who made 34, and Cameron Green, who scored 25, fell to left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam and Australia slumped further at 81-6.

Labuschagne and Bartlett then combined in a 103-run seventh-wicket stand before Taskin returned for his third spell to break the partnership, dismissing Bartlett.

Taskin bowled Adam Zampa on the next ball before Nathan Ellis survived the hat-trick.

"Anytime you lose three wickets that early, it's always tough to recover," said Inglis.

"I thought the partnership between Marnus and Xavier was outstanding. They got us to a total that was probably below par, but at least it gave us something to bowl at."

Rain then halted play for nearly three hours.

Bangladesh need 192 runs in 41 overs to win the series

Bangladesh set a revised target of 192 runs in 41 overs to win the ODI series against Australia at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur after rain disrupted play for nearly two and a half hours.

Australia were 187 for 8 in 42 overs when the rain interruption forced a stoppage, with Marnus Labuschagne unbeaten on 55 and Nathan Ellis on 2 at the crease.

Earlier, Australia suffered a dramatic collapse, slipping to 0 for 3 — the first time in their ODI history they lost three wickets without scoring a run. They later rebuilt through Josh Inglis (34) and Cameron Green (25), before Xavier Bartlett’s aggressive 52 provided some stability to the innings.

For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman picked up three wickets each, while Tanvir Islam claimed two, as the hosts kept Australia under pressure throughout the innings.

Taskin strikes twice to halt Australia's recovery before rain interruption

Pacer Taskin Ahmed struck twice in successive deliveries to put Bangladesh back in a strong position before rain interrupted play in the second ODI of the three-match series against Australia at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today.

After being reduced to 81 for six in 21.1 overs, Australia mounted a recovery through a 103-run seventh-wicket partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett. 

However, Taskin, who had dismissed opener Matthew Short in the first over, turned the tide again in the 41st over by rattling the stumps of Bartlett and Adam Zampa with successive deliveries, reducing the visitors to 184 for eight in 40.3 overs.

Taskin removed Bartlett and Zampa with similar inswingers. Bartlett, who brought up his maiden ODI fifty, departed for 52 off 48 balls, while Zampa was dismissed for a golden duck.

Rain interrupted play shortly afterwards, with Australia reaching 187 for eight in 42 overs. Labuschagne was unbeaten on 55 off 85 balls, while Nathan Ellis remained not out on two off five deliveries.
 

Labuschagne, Bartlett steady Australia

Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett stitched together a crucial partnership to help Australia recover from a precarious position in the second ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today.

After 34 overs, Australia had reached 157 for six, having recovered from 81 for six in 21.1 overs.

Labuschagne remained unbeaten on 43 off 62 balls, while Bartlett was not out on 36 off 29, with the pair adding 76 runs off 77 deliveries for the seventh wicket.
 

Tanvir strikes twice to deepen Australia's woes

After being rocked early by Bangladesh pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed, Australia ran into further trouble against left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today.

Tanvir ended a 43-run fifth-wicket partnership between Australia captain Josh Inglis and Cameron Green when he had Inglis hole out to deep cover in the 18th over. Inglis departed for 34 off 38 balls, just as the Aussies were looking to recover from a shaky start.

The left-arm spinner struck again in the 22nd over, dismissing Green for 25 off 50 balls with a caught-and-bowled effort to pile further pressure on Australia, who trail the series 1-0.

Earlier, Bangladesh's pacers reduced Australia to three wickets for no runs for the first time in their ODI history. The visitors were four down inside the first 10 overs.

Australia, however, have since moved to 96 for six after 23 overs, with Marnus Labuschagne unbeaten on seven off 17 balls and Xavier Bartlett not out on 13 off eight.
 

Taskin, Mustafizur on fire as Australia lose four inside Powerplay

Australia lost four of their top-order batters, with Bangladesh pacers Mustafizur Rahman claiming three and Taskin Ahmed scalping one in the second of their three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today. 

Taskin removed Matthew Short in his first over, before Mustafizur had Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw edge back to the keeper in the next over, as Australia were reduced to three for no runs in two overs for the first time in their ODI history.  

Skipper Josh Inglis and Alex Carey then added 25 runs for their fourth wicket, before the latter was dismissed by Mustafizur in the eighth over.    

Australia reached 38 for four in 10 overs, with Inglis unbeaten on 23 off 27 and Cameron Green not out on one off eight. 

Tigers on top as Australia lose three wickets for no runs for the first time in ODIs

0-3 in 2 overs -- read the scoreboard, and Australia had been on the receiving end of it for the very first time in ODIs. 

Bangladesh made a dream start to the second of their three-match ODI series against Australia at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today, as pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman reduced the visitors to three for naught in just two overs.

The only thing that went Australia's way was the coin toss, after which the visitors elected to bat first.

Riding high on confidence from their convincing victory in the first ODI at the same venue just a day earlier, Bangladesh came out firing.

Taskin struck first by dismissing opener Matthew Short. After having his first three deliveries move away from the right-hander, the pacer brought one back in sharply. Short shouldered arms, only to see his stumps rattled as he registered his third consecutive duck in the format.

Mustafizur then tightened Australia's woes, having Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw edge behind to the wicketkeeper off the first and final deliveries of the next over. Australia were suddenly three down without a run on the board.

In fact, the visitors' first run came from a Taskin no-ball in the following over. Australia eventually crawled to 17 for 3 after five overs.
 

Tigers to bowl first 

Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz lost the toss and the Tigers were asked to bowl first against Australia in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.

A historic series victory beckons for the Tigers, who brushed aside the visitors by 86 runs via the DLS method in the opening ODI on Tuesday, ending a 21-year wait for an ODI win over Australia.

Having snapped that 21-year drought, Bangladesh will now be aiming to secure their first-ever ODI series victory over Australia in what is their fifth bilateral ODI series against the world champions.

A win in either of the remaining two matches would also hand Bangladesh a fourth consecutive ODI series triumph, a feat they last achieved during the 2021-22 period.

For Australia, meanwhile, a series defeat would mark their fifth loss in their last six ODI series.

The hosts have made one change to the side that won the series opener, with out-of-form opener Saif Hassan making way for Soumya Sarkar. Bangladesh have retained their three-pronged pace attack of Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Nahid Rana, while Miraz, Tanvir Islam and Mosaddek Hossain will lead the spin department.

Australia, meanwhile, have made added more pace in their lineup. Riley Meredith will be playing his first ODI since 2021, having replaced seamer Liam Scott. 

The Tigers will take confidence from their commanding performance in the series opener -- their first ODI win over Australia in Mirpur and only their second against the Aussies overall.

The Mirpur surface offered something for both batters and bowlers on Tuesday, but it was the pacers who extracted the most out of it. Speedster Nahid Rana led the charge with a superb 4-41, tearing through the Australian batting lineup.

Earlier, Mosaddek Hossain stole the spotlight with a career-best unbeaten 86 on his return to the ODI side after a four-year absence, helping Bangladesh post a competitive total that laid the foundation for the memorable victory.

Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das (wk), Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Tanvir Islam

Australia XI: Matt Short, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (c & wk), Matt Renshaw, Alex Cary, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith