Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh clinched the Twenty20 International (T20I) series 3-0 after beating Australia by 10 runs in the third T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Friday.
Electing to bat first, the Tigers made a fighting 127 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs and then restricted Australia to 117 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs.
Bangladesh had a sorrow start as opener Mohammad Naim (1) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mathew Wade off Josh Hdazlewood when the hosts’ total was just three.
Soumya Sarkar, the other opener (2) was trapped leg before wicket by Adam Zampa when the home side’s score was three for the loss of two wickets.
One-down Shakib Al Hasan and second-down Mahmudullah Riyad repaired the early damage contributing together 44 runs for the third wicket partnership before Shakib was caught at the long-off by Ashton Agar off Zampa when Bangladesh’s total was 47 for the loss of three wickets.
Shakib scored 26 from 17 deliveries featuring four fours.
After Shakib’s departure, Riyad and Afif Hossain added together 29 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Afif (19) was run out by a direct throw of Alex Carey when the hosts’ score was 76 for the loss of four wickets.
Fourth-down Shamim Hossain ( 3) was caught at the midwicket by Ben McDermott off Hazlewood when the home side’s total was 81 for the loss of five wickets.
Number-7 batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan (11) was run out by a direct throw of Moises Henriques when Bangladesh’s score was 97 for the loss of six wickets.
Riyad played a captain’s knock of 52. He hit four fours in his 53 ball knock before he was bowled out by Nathan Ellis when Bangladesh’s score was 127 for the loss of seven wickets. It was Riyad’s fifth half-century in T20I cricket.
Then Mustafizur Rahman (0) was caught at the deep midwicket by Mitchell Marsh off Ellis when Bangladesh’s score was 127 for the loss of eight wickets.
Mahedi Hasan (6) was caught at the deep square leg by Ashton Agar off Ellis and Ellis fulfilled his hat-trick and Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.
Ellis grabbed three wickets in the space of 34 runs, while Hazlewood and Zampa bagged two wickets each for 16 and 24 runs respectively.
Australia had a poor start as opener Mathew Wade (1) was caught at the short fine leg by Shoriful Islam off Nasum Ahmed when the tourists’ score was eight.
Then McDermott and Mitchell Marsh mended the innings adding together 63 runs for the second wicket partnership before McDermott was bowled by Shakib Al Hasan when the touring side’s total was 71 for the loss of two wickets.
McDermott made 35 from 41 balls including two sixes.
Second-down Henriques (2) was caught at the mid-on by Shamim Hossain off Shoriful Islam when Australia’s score was 74 for the loss of three wickets.
First-down Marsh was caught at the long-off by Mohammad Naim off Shoriful Islam when the visitors’ score was 94 for the loss of four wickets.
Marsh hit 51 from 47 deliveries featuring six fours and a sixer. After dismissal of Marsh, Australian batsmen failed to face Bangladesh’s bowling attack.
Shoriful Islam captured two wickets in the space of 29 runs, while Nasum Ahmed and Shakib Al Hasan took one wicket each for 19 and 22 runs respectively.
Though Mustafizur Rahman did not get any wicket but his economic bowling helped Bangladesh to win over Australia. Mustafizur Rahman gave nine runs in his four overs.
