MIRPUR – Bangladesh scripted history on Thursday by securing their first-ever One-Day International (ODI) series victory over Australia, defeating the visitors by five wickets in a rain-affected second match of the three-game series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The victory gave Bangladesh an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, marking a landmark achievement for the Tigers against the reigning world champions. The third and final ODI will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
After rain reduced the contest to 42 overs per side, Australia captain Josh Inglis won the toss and elected to bat. However, Bangladesh’s pace attack made an immediate impact as Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman ripped through the top order, reducing Australia to 0-3 within the opening two overs. Matthew Short, Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw were all dismissed without scoring.
Australia struggled to recover despite a fighting effort from Inglis, who scored 34 off 38 balls, while partnerships with Alex Carey and Cameron Green briefly steadied the innings. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam then struck twice in quick succession, removing Inglis and Green to leave the visitors reeling at 81-6. A remarkable 103-run partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett revived Australia’s hopes. Bartlett smashed a brisk 52 from 48 deliveries, including four boundaries and two sixes, before Taskin ended the stand in the penultimate over. Labuschagne remained unbeaten on 55 off 85 balls as Australia posted 187-8.
Mustafizur and Taskin led Bangladesh’s bowling effort with three wickets apiece, while Tanvir claimed two scalps. Mustafizur’s economical figures of 3/27 earned him the Player of the Match award. Following another rain delay, Bangladesh were set a revised target of 191 in 41 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. The hosts responded confidently, with Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto laying a solid foundation through an 86-run second-wicket partnership. Both batters contributed 42 runs each.
After their departures, Towhid Hridoy anchored the chase with an unbeaten 40 off 55 balls, striking two fours and a six. His composed innings guided Bangladesh to victory in the 35th over with six overs to spare. For Australia, Riley Meredith, Cameron Green, Adam Zampa, Xavier Bartlett and Matt Renshaw claimed one wicket each, but Bangladesh’s all-round display ensured a memorable and historic series-clinching triumph.
