Bangladesh beat Australia in rain-hit second ODI to register historic series victory

MIRPUR: Pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman's three-wicket hauls, followed by a collective batting effort, helped Bangladesh defeat Australia by five wickets in the rain-affected second ODI of the three-match home series here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The victory meant Bangladesh registered their maiden series triumph over Australia in ODIs as they have amassed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the current three-match assignment, with the last fixture scheduled to be played at the same venue on Sunday.

In a match that was initially reduced to 42 overs per side due to rain hindrance, Australia captain Josh Inglis won the toss and opted to bat first.

But the decision backfired as the visitors could muster 187/8 in their allotted overs despite valiant half-centuries from Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett.

The reigning champions got off to a disastrous start to their innings as Bangladesh's pace duo of Taskin and Mustafizur dismissed both their openers, Matthew Short and Cooper Connolly, and middle-order batter Matt Renshaw, all ducks, inside two overs with no runs on the board.

Following the early stutter, skipper Inglis attempted to force a recovery and shared crucial partnerships with fellow wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey (13) and Cameron Green until eventually falling victim to Tanvir Islam on the first delivery of the 18th over.

Inglis made a notable contribution to Australia's total with a gutsy 34 off 38 deliveries with the help of four fours and a six.

Islam struck again on the first delivery of the 22nd over as he got Green caught and bowled, reducing Australia further to 81/6.

After Islam's twin strike, Bartlett joined Labuschagne in the middle, and the duo launched an astounding recovery by putting together a 103-run partnership, which saw both batters bring up their respective half-centuries.

Taskin eventually broke the stand in the penultimate over by getting rid of Bartlett, who made a 48-ball 52, laced with four fours and two sixes, while Labuschagne batted until the end and top-scored with an unbeaten 55 off 85 deliveries, comprising three fours.

Pacers Mustafizur and Taskin jointly led Bangladesh's bowling charge with three wickets each, but the former was more economical as he gave away just 27 runs in seven overs and was thus adjudged the Player of the Match. Besides them, left-arm spinner Islam chipped in with two scalps.

After another rain interruption, the match was further reduced to 41 overs, and Bangladesh were thus set a revised target of 191 as per the Duckworth Lewis Stern (DLS) method.

The home side, in response, comfortably chased down the target for the loss of five wickets and 36 balls to spare, courtesy of an 86-run partnership for the second wicket between Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto, who finished as joint top-scorers by making 42 each.

Following their back-to-back dismissals, middle-order batter Towhid Hridoy took the reins of Bangladesh's pursuit and ultimately steered the hosts to a highly-rewarding victory in the 35th over with an unbeaten 40-run knock, which came off 55 deliveries and featured two fours and a six.

For Australia, Riley Meredith, Renshaw, Green, Zampa and Bartlett could pick up a wicket apiece.