The Tigers succumbed to the quality bowling attack of the Australians as they managed to score only 131 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the first Twenty20 match of the five-match series on Tuesday.
Bangladesh struggled to score after being sent to bat first in the first Twenty20 International of the five-match series against Australia which started on Tuesday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Though Mohammad Naim struck a six in the very second ball of the match, the first one he could connect after surviving the previous one against Mitchel Starc but the intention did not reflect throughout the rest of the innings.
Soumya Sarkar was the first to go, who was relentlessly attacked by Josh Hazlewood with short-of-length balls and the left-handed opener moved towards the legside to make room for an attempted glide towards the third man but ended up guiding the ball to the stumps after scoring only two runs from nine balls.
The other opener, Naim chipped in with but he also went out softly while attempting a reverse-sweep against Adam Zampa but could not connect and ended up being bowled after scoring 30 runs from 29 balls.
Skipper Mahmudullah (20) was lucky as he was dropped on the slip when he was five and he formed a 36 run partnership with Shakib Al Hasan from 32 balls but ended up giving a catch to the long-off after hitting a six in the previous ball of Hazlewood.
Shakib, who was holding the other end was trying to accelerate but ended up being played on while attempting a pull against Hazlewood after scoring 36 runs from 33 balls.
The allrounder was lucky to survive twice before, firstly Andrew Tye dropping a catch and secondly Hazlweod missing on a run-out chance after a throw from Phillipe after which he did not dislodge the bells.
Youngsters Nurul Hasan, and Shamim Hossain failed to impress on their first big test as all of them cut sorry figures while facing the Australian attack.
Nurul Hasan tried to hit a knuckle-ball from Tye by moving deep into the crease but could not get past the inner circle and got out for only three and Shamim after playing a blind-shot against Starck were bowled out in the very next delivery for four.
Only Afif Hossain was swimming across the tide as he scored 23 runs from 17 balls with three boundaries which showed some promises.
Due to the bio-bubble protocol, the ball must be replaced if it lands in the gallery, and such an incident happened twice after Naim and Mahmudullah hit the ball to the stands.
Australians managed to get 47 dot balls out of 120 legal deliveries which showed their dominance and the helplessness of Bangladesh batsmen who struggled to score runs in the sluggish wicket of Mirpur.
Hazlewood picked three wickets and Starc picked a brace which took him to 50 T20I wickets. Zampa and Tye took one wicket each.
