Bangladesh etched their name into the record books by claiming their first ever One Day International series victory over Australia, securing a five wicket win in the second match in Dhaka. Guided by outstanding spells from Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, the hosts successfully chased a revised target of 192 after rain interrupted proceedings.
The foundation for Bangladesh’s success was laid during a remarkable opening burst with the ball. Australia found themselves in deep trouble almost immediately, losing three wickets before getting a single run on the board. Taskin and Mustafizur dismantled the top order with disciplined bowling, putting the visitors under immense pressure from the outset.
Matthew Short’s difficult run continued when Taskin dismissed him for another duck. Mustafizur then removed Cooper Connolly with the very next over before Matt Renshaw followed in similar fashion. Australia slipped further to 25 for 4 when Alex Carey departed, leaving the touring side searching for stability.
Captain Josh Inglis attempted to rebuild with an entertaining 34, striking boundaries all around the ground. However, spinner Tanvir Islam halted Australia’s recovery by dismissing both Inglis and Cameron Green. At 81 for 6, the innings appeared headed for a very low total.
Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett then produced a spirited fightback. Labuschagne anchored the innings with an unbeaten 55 from 85 deliveries, while Bartlett impressed with his maiden ODI half century, scoring 52 from just 48 balls. Their seventh wicket partnership of 103 runs gave Australia a chance to post a competitive total.
Taskin returned late in the innings to break the stand, removing Bartlett before also dismissing Adam Zampa. Australia eventually reached 187 for 8 from 42 overs before rain brought a lengthy delay.
When play resumed, Bangladesh began positively despite Xavier Bartlett producing an excellent opening over. Soumya Sarkar provided early momentum with aggressive stroke play, while Najmul Hossain Shanto added valuable runs at the top. The pair helped steady the chase before Australia fought back with several quick wickets.
Litton Das and Mosaddek Hossain both made useful contributions, but Bangladesh still had work to do at 144 for 5. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Towhid Hridoy calmly guided the innings through the tense closing stages. Hridoy struck crucial boundaries and a six, while Mehidy finished the contest in style with a powerful hook over the ropes.
The victory not only handed Bangladesh a memorable win on the day but also delivered a historic ODI series triumph against one of world cricket’s strongest teams.
