Marsh powers Australia to 3-0 sweep over Bangladesh

CHATTOGRAM (Agencies): Mitchell Marsh smashed 60 off 28 balls as Australia completed a 3-0 T20 series sweep over Bangladesh on Sunday, to win by seven wickets in Chattogram on Sunday. Australia had already wrapped up the series after winning the first two matches ––– and made light work of the hosts, chasing a modest target of 110 in just 11 overs. Openers Josh Inglis and Marsh attacked from the outset, punishing the Bangladesh quicks and setting the tone for a rapid pursuit. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed made the first breakthrough, dismissing Inglis for 17 after the opener had shared a 54-run stand with Marsh. Marsh, the captain, continued the assault, bringing up his 14th T20 half-century off just 23 balls, before Shoriful Islam removed him for 60.

Cooper Connolly then fell for 15 before Matt Renshaw and Tim David wrapped up the chase inside 11 overs. Renshaw remained unbeaten on six, while David smashed 12 off three balls. Nasum, Shoriful and Rishad Hossain claimed one wicket each for Bangladesh. Earlier, stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy struck an unbeaten 61 off 51 balls to rescue Bangladesh after the hosts, playing only for pride, slumped to an early collapse.Only Hridoy and Hossain reached double figures. Man-of-the-match Marsh said Australia’s bowlers had laid the platform for victory and suggested Spencer Johnson, who returned figures of 2-6 from four overs, was equally deserving of the award. “I thought we were fantastic with the ball today,” Marsh said. Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons admitted the series had exposed deep cracks in his side’s batting. “I think in the last game, even though we lost, I was still happy with the attitude both on the field and when we chased,” he said. “But… the first game and this game, the batting especially, we haven’t given anything to our bowlers to work with.”

BRIEF SCORES

Australia 112 for 3 (Marsh 60) beat Bangladesh 109 for 8 (Hridoy 61 not out, Johnson 2-6) by seven wickets