Tigers one step away from history

Bangladesh are only one step away from making history in their series against Australia, as a win in the third match would give them their first-ever series victory against the five-time World Champions.

Bangladesh had never played a bilateral twenty20 international series against Australia. All their previous four encounters had come in World T20 matches, and Bangladesh lost all of them.

Bangladesh have to date, defeated every Test-playing nation in a bilateral series bar Australia and England. A victory in the third T20I against the visitors would see only England remain unscathed from the Tigers’ claws.

But the tables have turned in the ongoing series as Mahmudullah Riyad and co have dominated the Aussies in the first two matches. The first win came by 23 runs and the second match saw the Tigers win comfortably by five wickets despite a wobble in their run chase.

Despite Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah keeping his feet on the ground, the Tigers should feel relaxed as the Australians put up little fight in both matches. The Bangladesh skipper said they are taking it one match at a time, but it is unlikely that he is not eyeing the series in the next game.

Bangladesh’s worries before the series were fielding an inexperienced side as veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal could not make it along with Liton Das. But until now, the youngsters have passed with flying colours.

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed was the hero of the first match with four wickets, with help from Shak Mahedi Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan and the pace duo of Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam.

In the second match, Bangladesh lost five wickets for 67 while chasing 122, but youngster Afif Hossain played a match-winning knock of unbeaten 37 to take the Tigers home, along with apt assistance from Nurul Hasan Sohan.

When Bangladesh youngsters are getting them over the line, the Aussie ones have suffered in both matches. Their inexperienced batting lineup without Steve Smith, Aaron Finch, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell; have struggled on the slow tracks as Bangladesh bowlers took full advantage.

Mustafiz has been Australia’s main headache as the left-arm seamer’s deceptive cutters have already picked up five wickets in the series.

Moises Henriques, who played with and against Mustafiz in the Indian Premier League, never found ‘the Fizz’ doing something like what he has been doing in this series.

“He doesn’t do that when he plays in the IPL. It’s probably half-half. He summed up the conditions really well tonight. His slower ball is hard to play even on a good wicket, let alone on something like this one,” said the Australian born in Portugal.

In the third match of the series, Australia have no other way but to win. But for Bangladesh, it will be a chance to make history. And even though the Tigers have been making quite many since 2015, they will definitely want this feather on their crown.