Bangladesh thrash Australia in rain-hit ODI series opener

DHAKA (Agencies): Mosaddek Hossain hit a career-best 86 not out and Nahid Rana took four wickets as Bangladesh trounced Australia by 86 runs in the rain-hit opening one-day international on Tuesday to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. It was only Bangladesh’s second ever ODI victory against Australia, following their famous 2005 upset in Cardiff. Mosaddek capped a fine all-round performance, bagging two wickets to walk away with the man-of-the-match award. Chasing 285, Australia were reeling at 191-9 in 42.2 overs, still needing 93 runs off 46 balls with one wicket in hand, when a fierce thunderstorm forced the players off the field at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Bangladesh were declared winners via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

Cameron Green top-scored for the visitors with an unbe­aten 52 off 66 balls but found little support as Bangladesh’s pace attack ran riot. Taskin Ahmed struck on the first ball, bowling opener Matt Short for a duck. Mustafizur Rahman then removed Marnus Labusc­hagne for just one off the second ball of the second over to leave Australia reeling at 2-2. Cooper Connolly (35) survived a reprieve when Tanzid Hasan put down a chance at second slip off Mustafizur, and the opener steadied the innings briefly before being castled by an arm ball from Mosaddek. Captain Josh Inglis fell for 19, edging a short ball from Rana to the keeper, while Alex Carey was bounced out by Rana for 47 as he attempted to rebuild alongside Green. Australia’s lower order, including Matthew Renshaw, debutant Liam Scott and Xavier Bartlett, offered little resistance, leaving Green stranded at the crease.

Earlier, Mosaddek laid the platform with his 70-ball knock on his return to international cricket after four years, hitting seven fours and three sixes. Bangladesh also benefited from six dropped catches by a sloppy Australia, four of them off Mosaddek. Opener Tanzid Hasan and number three Najmul Hossain Shanto made vital contributions, with the left-handed pair hitting half-centuries. Tanzid struck 54 off 44 balls before Nathan Ellis removed him in his second spell. Shanto, continuing his rich vein of form, made 67 off 86 before a soft dismissal ended his innings. The pair put on 96 runs for the second wicket off 91 balls after Australia struck early, with Ellis accounting for Saif Hassan (5) who edged to second slip where Labuschagne took a simple catch. Australia threatened to seize control when Renshaw’s part-time off-spin proved surprisingly effective, removing Litton Das (7) with a return catch before also accounting for Shanto. But Mosaddek steadied the innings, first adding 75 with Towhid Hridoy, before late partnerships of 20 with Tanvir Islam and 45 with Taskin to ensure a competitive total. Ellis was the pick of the Aust­ralia bowlers with 3-38, while Scott and Renshaw claimed two wickets each.

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH INNINGS:

Saif Hassan c Labuschagne b Ellis 5

Tanzid Hasan c Bartlett b Ellis 54

Najmul Hossain c Connolly b Renshaw 67

Litton Das c&b Renshaw 7

Towhid Hridoy c Ellis b Bartlett 31

Mosaddek Hossain not out 86

Mehidy Hasan lbw b Scott 3

Tanvir Islam c Scott b Ellis 5

Taskin Ahmed c Ellis b Scott 20

EXTRAS (W-6) 6

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 284

DID NOT BAT: Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-10 (Saif), 2-106 (Tanzid), 3-125 (Litton), 4-140 (Najmul), 5-215 (Towhid), 6-219 (Mehidy), 7-239 (Tanvir), 8-284 (Taskin)

BOWLING: Bartlett 10-0-62-1 (3w), Ellis 10-1-38-3 (1w), Scott 8-0-57-2 (1w), Green 4-0-31-0 (1w), Short 3-0-14-0, Renshaw 8-0-35-2, Zampa 7-0-47-0

AUSTRALIA INNINGS:

Connolly b Mosaddek 35

Labuschagne lbw b Mustafizur 1

Inglis c Litton b Nahid 19

Carey c Litton b Nahid 47

Green not out 52

Renshaw lbw b Mosaddek 2

Scott c Towhid b Nahid 2

Bartlett c Tanzid b Nahid 1

Ellis c Mosaddek b Mustafizur 8

Zampa not out 6

EXTRAS (B-5, W-13) 18

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 42.2 overs) 191

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Short), 2-2 (Labuschagne), 3-51 (Inglis), 4-91 (Connolly), 5-128 (Carey), 6-135 (Renshaw), 7-138 (Scott), 8-140 (Bartlett), 9-156 (Ellis)

BOWLING: Taskin 5-0-28-1 (2w), Mustafizur 5.2-0-24-2 (2w), Nahid 10-0-41-4 (5w), Mehidy 6-1-23-0, Mosaddek 10-1-37-2 (3w), Tanvir 6-1-33-0 (1w)

RESULT: Bangladesh won by 86 runs (DLS method).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mosaddek Hossain.