Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh made an auspicious start in their five-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series with 23 runs over Australia in the first T20I match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Tuesday.
Sent into bat first, Bangladesh made a fighting total of 131 for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs and then dismissed Australia for 108 off 20 overs.
Bangladesh will take on Australia in the second T20I at the same ground today. The match will start at 6.00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Right-arm pacer Nasum Ahmed played the key role in demolishing Australia innings. He captured four wickets at the cost 19 runs. Nasum was adjudged the Man of the Match. ‘Cutter Boy’ Mustafizur Rahman and promising pacer Shoriful Islam gave a good support to Nasum Ahmed. Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam claimed two wickets each giving 16 and 19 runs respectively.
Besides, Mahedi Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan took one wicket each for 22 and 24 runs respectively.Bangladesh had a shaky start as opener Soumya Sarkar (2) was bowled out by Josh Hazlewood when the hosts’ score was 15.
Opener Mohammad Naim was bowled out by Adam Zampa when the home side’s total was 37 for the loss of two wickets.
Naim scored 30 from 29 deliveries including two sixes and two fours.
After Naim’s dismissal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad repaired the damage adding together 36 runs for the third wicket partnership before Riyad (20) was caught at the mid-off by Moises Henriques off Hazlewood when Bangladesh’s score was 73 for the loss of three wickets.
After Riyad’s departure, third-down Nurul Hasan Sohan (3) was caught at the backward point by Mitchell Marsh off Andrew Tye when the hosts’ total was 86 for the loss of four wickets.
After Sohan’s dismissal, Bangladesh batsmen failed to make any notable partnership.
Ace batsman Shakib notched up his team’s highest of 36. He hit three fours in his 33-ball innings before he was bowled out by Hazlewood when the home side’s score was 104 for the loss of five wickets.
Fifth-down Shamim Hossain (4) was bowled out by Mitchell Starc when Bangladesh’s total was 114 for the loss of six wickets.
Fourth-down Afif Hossain (23) was bowled out by Starc when the hosts innings came to an end.
Hazlewood grabbed three wickets at the cost of 24 runs, while Starc bagged two wickets in the space of 33 runs.
Tye and Zampa took one wicket each for 22 and 28 runs respectively.
Later, right-arm spinner Mahedi Hasan bowled out opener Alex Carey before Australia opened their account.
Opener Josh Philipe ((9) was stumped out by wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan off Nasum Ahmed when the tourists’ score was 10 for the loss of two wickets.
Second-down Henriques (1) was bowled out by Shakib when the Aussies total was 11 for the loss of three wickets.
Mitchell Marsh and Mathew Wade made the only notable partnership for the tourists as they put on together 38 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Wade (13) was caught at the short fine leg by Mustafizur Rahman off Nasum Ahmed when the touring side’s score was 49 for the loss of four wickets.
Marsh was the only batsman of Australia who fought back against the tight and controlled bowling attack of Bangladesh.
Marsh hit a run-a-ball 45 featuring four fours and a sixer before he was caught by Shoriful Islam off Nasum Ahmed when Australia’s score was 84 for the loss of six wickets.
After dismissal of Marsh, Australia lost their wickets in regular intervals and conceded the first defeat in a T20I match to the Red-and-Green outfit.
