Taskin, Mustafizur set up famous series win for Bangladesh

In a historic achievement in Dhaka, Taskin, Mustafizur set up famous series win for Bangladesh as the home side secured their first-ever ODI series victory against Australia with a brilliant five-wicket win. Chasing a rain-adjusted DLS target of 192, Bangladesh overcame some late-innings nerves to seal the triumph, sparked by a sensational bowling opening that saw the tourists reduced to 0 for 3.

A Nightmare Start for Australia in Dhaka

The match began with some of the most extraordinary opening exchanges ever witnessed in Bangladesh’s ODI history. Taskin Ahmed set the tone immediately. For the second consecutive innings, Taskin clean-bowled Australian opener Matthew Short with a brilliant delivery that nipped back from a good length. Short, who decided to leave the ball, was sent back for his third consecutive duck, extending a difficult run that began in Lahore against Pakistan.

Things went from bad to worse for Australia in the very next over, bowled by the crafty Mustafizur Rahman. Cooper Connolly fell to the first ball he faced, feathering a thin edge to a delivery that angled slightly away from the left-hander. At the end of that same over, Matt Renshaw departed in almost identical fashion, leaving Australia in the unprecedented position of being 0 for 3 without a single run on the scoreboard. They became only the fourth team in the history of One Day Internationals to suffer such a disastrous start.

Mustafizur was not done yet. In the eighth over, he claimed the wicket of Alex Carey, who drove a delivery uppishly straight to Najmul Hossain Shanto at point. This reduced Australia to a perilous 25 for 4. It marked only the second time in Mustafizur’s illustrious ODI career that he picked up three wickets during the powerplay, putting Bangladesh firmly in control.

Inglis, Labuschagne, and Bartlett Launch Rescue Mission

Faced with a complete collapse, Australian captain Josh Inglis attempted to rebuild the innings. Inglis showed intent, striking five crisp boundaries—including a spectacular square-cut six off Nahid Rana. He looked set on 34 before left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam broke his momentum, coaxing an inside-out shot that found deep cover. Tanvir struck again soon after, catching Cameron Green off his own bowling to leave Australia reeling at 81 for 6 in the 22nd over.

However, Australia found their saviors in Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett. The duo engineered a superb 103-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Labuschagne, who was demoted to No. 7 and survived a run-out chance on 1, played a gritty, anchor role, scoring an unbeaten 55 off 85 balls. This was only his second ODI half-century since his match-winning performance in the 2023 World Cup final.

At the other end, Bartlett was the primary aggressor. Playing in just his second ODI, Bartlett struck six boundaries and two massive sixes over midwicket on his way to a brilliant 52 off 48 balls. The partnership was finally broken in the 41st over by Taskin Ahmed, who cleaned up Bartlett with a sharp in-swinger and bowled Zampa with a clever off-cutter on the very next ball. These late breakthroughs proved crucial, ensuring the DLS target remained manageable after a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour rain delay halted play with Australia at 187 for 8 in 42 overs.

The Chase: Soumya and Shanto Lay the Foundation

When play resumed with a revised target of 192, Bartlett carried his batting confidence into his bowling, delivering a dramatic first over. He dismissed Tanzid Hasan on the very first ball with a simple return catch and nearly had Najmul Hossain Shanto trapped leg-before, only for a DRS review to save the Bangladesh batsman.

Bangladesh quickly recovered as the recalled Soumya Sarkar got going. Soumya played some elegant shots, including lofted cover drives off Bartlett and Nathan Ellis, and a spectacular six over square leg. Shanto also found his rhythm, hitting successive boundaries. Despite surviving a tough chance on 21 when Labuschagne dropped him at short midwicket, Shanto helped keep the scoreboard ticking alongside Soumya, who pulled Zampa for a massive six over long-on.

The breakthrough for Australia came via part-timer Matt Renshaw, who dismissed Soumya for 42 after the batsman mistimed a reverse paddle, giving Bartlett an easy catch at slip. Shanto fell shortly after for 42, caught behind off the returning Riley Meredith, who was playing his first ODI in five years.

Hridoy and Miraz Seal the Historic Triumph

A quick succession of wickets threatened to derail the chase. Cameron Green dismissed Litton Das (21) with a sharp rising delivery that caught the glove, and Mosaddek Hossain fell cheaply to Cooper Connolly, leaving Bangladesh slightly tense at 144 for 5 with only the bowlers left to come.

However, captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Towhid Hridoy showed immense composure. Even after taking a painful blow to the side of his helmet, Miraz stood firm. Towhid Hridoy then accelerated the chase in spectacular fashion, hooking Meredith for a six and a four in consecutive deliveries. Miraz finished the game in style, pulling another delivery over the boundary rope to seal the historic victory with five wickets and plenty of overs to spare.