Bangladesh bowlers script 1st T20 win over Australia

Bangladesh completed its first ever triumph over Australia in Twenty20s on Tuesday with a 23-run win over the tourists in the first game of the five-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

Nasum Ahmed starred for Bangladesh with a career-best 4-19 from his four overs, which earned him the player of the match accolade, while Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam took two wickets each in a slow and low Mirpur track to bowl out Australia for 108 in 20 overs.  

Mitchell Marsh top-scored for the Aussies with a run-a-ball 45 but other than him all other Aussie batters found life too difficult at the middle.

Earlier, Bangladesh posted a meagre 131-7 after being asked to bat first with Shakib Al Hasan scoring the highest 36 off 33 balls while Mohammad Naim and Afif Hossain chipped in with 30 and 23 respectively.

Josh Hazlewood claimed 3-24 while his fellow pacer Mitchell Starc took 2-33.

Australia were the favourites, chasing only 132 runs, but the Tigers’ spin trio of Shakib, Nasum Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan had other plans as they took full advantage of a slow Sher-e-Bangla wicket to reduce Australia to 11-3 in 2.1 overs.

Alex Carey, who played in the middle order in Australia’s recently concluded West Indies series, was bowled off Mahedi in the first ball of the Australia innings.

In the next over, Nasum picked up the wicket of Josh Philippe (nine) with a flighted delivery that deceived the batter and Nurul Hassan completed the stumping.

Moises Henriqes (one) tried to sweep Shakib, only to get an inside edge that smashed into the wickets.

Mitchell Marsh and skipper Mathew Wade tried to repair the innings with a 38-run partnership for the fourth wicket but the stand ended when the latter fell for 13 after smacking a wayward delivery from Nasum straight to the fine-leg fielder.

Nasum was also fortunate to get the wicket of Ashton Agar (seven), who broke his own stumps with his legs.

Bangladesh looked primed to win but Marsh’s presence at the crease meant Australia were still within a chance.

Nasum ended Australia’s last hope pulling off a victory when he dismissed Marsh in the 16th over, with Shoriful taking a good running catch.

Mustafiz and Shoriful shared the remaining four wickets to wrap up their innings in the final ball.

Earlier, Bangladeshi batsmen could hardly breathe easy against the Aussie attack after being sent to bat.

Naim starred in the powerplay overs, Shakib anchored the middle overs and Afif played a smart knock in a tough situation to give the Bangladeshi bowlers a fighting total, which in the end proved to be enough.

This is Bangladesh’s first win in T20s over Australia after defeats in their four previous encounters.

News Courtesy:

https://www.newagebd.net/article/145331/bangladesh-bowlers-script-1st-t20-win-over-australia