Bangladesh battled valiantly defending a small total of 104 but in the end, the Aussies managed to figure out a way to victory as they secured their first win in the five-match twenty20 international series by three wickets.
Batting first, a disaster batting performance led Bangladesh to score only 104 in their innings. Bangladesh had an early break and kept the Aussies tightened up throughout the match, Dan Christian’s 39 off 15 deliveries, where he hit Shakib Al Hasan for five sixes in an over, made sure that the visitors never had too much on the plate for the remainder of the chase.
Shakib ended his spell conceding 50 runs and no wicket, his worst bowling spell ever in T2OIs. Mustafiz had an even better spell than the first as he conceded only nine runs of his four overs and picked up two wickets.
Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad decided to bat first again as they fielded an unchanged XI. Australia brought in a couple of changes as Tye and Swepson came in instead of Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis, who was rested.
Soumya Sarkar continued on his poor form as he was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood for eight, his highest score this series. Coming in at number three, Shakib Al Hasan struggled with his timing throughout his tenuous knock of 15 from 26 deliveries.
After Shakib was sent back by Hazlewood, leg-spinner Swepson struck in consecutive deliveries to send Mahmudullah and Nurul Hasan Sohan back with two googlies. None of the batsmen bothered the scorers as both of them went back for a duck.
Mohammad Naim was Swepson’s next victim as the opener tried a slog sweep to only lob it straight up in the air for wicket-keeper Matthew Wade to take a dolly. Naim had just survived a review for LBW the previous delivery but could not use up that opportunity.
Afif showed some intent as he hit Ashton Agar for a six but got out in that over for 20 as he was caught at deep mid-wicket trying to hit another six.
Shamim Hossain failed in the fourth consecutive match as Tye deceived him with a knuckle ball to take Bangladesh’s seventh wicket.
A four and a six from Mahedi allowed Bangladesh to cross three figures before he was out for 23, and a last-ball dismissal of Shoriful Islam ensured that the Tigers ended on 104 for nine.
Bangladesh got a great start as Mahedi sent Wade back in the first over. But that turned in favour of Australia by the next batsman Dan Christian as he hit Shakib for five sixes in the fourth over.
Nasum Ahmed struck in the very next over to send Ben McDermott back and Mustafizur Rahman bowled a brilliant wicket maiden in the final over of the powerplay, dismissing Christian, who scored 39 off just 15 deliveries.
Shakib got some reconciliation in his next over as Mitchell Marsh’s straight drive hit his hand and went on to the stumps to run Moises Henriques at the other end.
Bangladesh started to see some hope when Mustafiz came back to trap Alex Carey leg before, sending him back for one. And in the next over, Mahedi rattled Marsh’s stumps to pick up Australia’s sixth wicket.
But all that hope slowly diminished as Ashton Agar played a vital knock of 27 runs took the Aussies almost home.
A brilliant catch from Shamim Hossain sent Agar back but by then, it was all done. Ashton Agar and Tye finished the job in the 19th over as they won with three wickets and an over in hand.
