MATCH REPORT
Follow UsAt 68/1 in 12 overs while chasing 128, Australia appeared to be placed in the best position to win a match in this five-match T20I series against Bangladesh. However, things did not go according to the plan. Rather, they went on course of the expected script of this series and Australia lost the plot in the later half to fell 10 runs short. With this loss they have conceded the series 3-0, the first time they have lost a bilateral series to Bangladesh in any format.
The credit goes to Mustafizur Rahman who did not take a wicket but allowed only 9 runs in his four-over spell. He bowled the 13th over and conceded only 1 run which started the turnaround. He was aptly backed up by Shakib Hasan in the next over who conceded only 4 and more importantly, dismissed Ben McDermott for 35, breaking the 63-run stand for the second wicket.
It is never easy for a new batsman to start on the tracks laid out for this series. As expected, it began a dry phase for Australia. 16 balls off their legitimate last 48 balls were dots - exactly one-third. There were only three fours and one six. Rahman bowled three of these eight overs as skipper Mahmudullah used his ace weapon to full efficiency. Shoriful Islam contributed with two wickets at the back end.
Having taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series in Dhaka, the young Bangladesh team fell into each other's arms in disbelief at their biggest night in cricket. Before this week, Bangladesh had never even beaten Australia in a T20.
"I am so proud. The boys stood up at an important time," said the captain, whose 52 was the foundation of Bangladesh's 127 for nine off their 20 overs.
Even a hat-trick by young bowler Nathan Ellis on his debut could not lift the side and their gloom. "Very disappointing," was Wade's verdict of the match and a series that followed their defeat in the T20 series in the West Indies last month.
Mahmudullah won the toss and surprisingly chose to bat after the start was delayed for more than 90 minutes by rain. He was his side's top scorer with his patient 53 ball innings, but was also the first scalp for Ellis who came in to give fast bowler Mitchell Starc a rest and made his mark in the final three balls.
As Bangladesh went for big hits, Mustafizur was then caught by Marsh and Mahedi Hasan was caught by Ashton Agar at deep square.
In response, Marsh and McDermott put on 63 for the third wicket but then the slow Dhaka wicket again took a toll. Runs became impossible to find as they were in the first two games that Bangladesh won by 35 runs and five wickets.
The Bangladesh players danced across the field in celebration at the new boost to their international standing in a Twenty20 World Cup year. They have now won seven straight T20 internationals and the night's victory was even more impressive as it was the lowest total they have ever defended to win. Mahmudullah said the side had sat down for serious talks after their recent series win in Zimbabwe.
"We felt that we were a good team even though the rankings don't show that," he said. Bangladesh are currently rated 10th by the International Cricket Council.
"We just have to play with a big heart and a balanced mind and show our skills," he said of the country's prospects at the World Cup, to be held in the United Arab Emirates in October-November.
