United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh have made history at Mirpur on Thursday, securing their first-ever ODI series victory over Australia with a five-wicket win in the rain-affected second match. Following a lengthy weather delay that revised their target via the DLS method, the hosts chased down 192 runs in just 35 overs, sealing the three-match bilateral series with a game to spare. When the play resumed after the rain interruption, Bangladesh's target was adjusted to 192 from 41 overs. The chase began with an early hiccup when opener Tanzid Hasan fell to Xavier Bartlett for a duck in the first over. However, Bangladesh recovered quickly through stable contributions across the top order. Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto anchored the rebuild, each scoring vital identical scores of 42 to keep the run rate stable. Litton Das chipped in with a brisk 21 off 18 balls before falling to Cameron Green, while Mosaddek Hossain contributed 15 before falling to Adam Zampa, leaving the score at 144 for five. Towhid Hridoy and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz then assumed total control of the chase, forging an unbroken 51-run partnership to guide the hosts home. Hridoy played a measured anchor role to finish unbeaten on 40 from 55 balls, while Miraz provided the finishing fluency, hitting an unbeaten 22 off 22 deliveries. With the crowd sensing a historic achievement, Miraz finished the match in style during the 35th over off Riley Meredith. After Hridoy crunched a boundary in front of square, Miraz sealed the win and the series by hooking a 143 kph short delivery firmly over the fine-leg boundary for six, sparking jubilant celebrations across the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Earlier in the day, Australia’s decision to bat first backfired immediately as they collapsed to an unprecedented zero for three, marking the first time in their international history that three wickets fell without a run on the board. Taskin Ahmed struck early, removing Matthew Short for his third consecutive duck in ODI cricket. In the following over, Mustafizur Rahman compounded the tourists' misery by dismissing both Cooper Connolly and Matt Ranshaw for ducks. Australia’s top-order collapsed further to leave them reeling at 81 for six, threatening a sub-100 total. However, a resilient seventh-wicket partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett steadied the ship, adding 103 runs to push the total toward respectability. Just as Australia reached 187 for eight in 42 overs, a heavy downpour halted play, forcing a premature end to the visitors' innings after a late double-strike from Taskin Ahmed. Mustfizur Rahman was adjudged player of the match after taking three wickets for 27 in seven overs.