Mirpur
Winning their first ODI against Australia after 21 years and then winning their maiden ODI series against them is probably not going to quench Bangladesh. They will look to make it 3-0 when the two sides meet in the third ODI on Sunday. It would have been an improbable notion even a few months ago, but the home side has certainly become an improved side.
Bangladesh overcame a couple of tight corners to win by five wickets in the second ODI on Thursday. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Soumya Sarkar put together a strong partnership, 86 runs for the second wicket, after they lost Tanzid Hasan in the first over. Later when they lost five wickets, Tawhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz calmly took them home with 38 runs remaining in the 192-run target.
Taskin Ahmed also made an important contribution towards the end of the Australia innings, when he took two wickets off consecutive deliveries. It helped reduce Bangladesh’s target to 192 when the rain interrupted play at 2.35pm; if Australia were six down, Bangladesh would have needed 220 runs to win.
Bangladesh would also be buoyed by the start they had with the ball, when Australia were reduced to 0 for 3 in the second over. It was only the fourth time in ODI history that a batting side had lost three wickets for no runs. Mustafizur Rahman, who took three wickets in the first powerplay, was adjudged player-of-the-match, as he continues to have a purple patch in 2026.
What has happened to Australia, meanwhile, is a question on everyone’s lips. Their top-order batting hasn’t lasted for long enough to pass judgment on their form. The middle-order has also been underwhelming; they moved Marnus Labuschagne to No. 7 in the previous game, where he finally made a half-century after 14 innings. Xavier Bartlett helped out with the bat in the second game too, reaching his maiden half-century.
Australia’s bowling too hasn’t been too effective. Bartlett and Nathan Ellis have threatened with the new ball but Bangladesh’s counter-attacking style has got them out of trouble twice.
A 3-0 series win will be marked as an iconic moment in Bangladesh cricket, mainly because of how the team is reviving itself after a couple of years of poor performances. It will also be hailed as the win is achieved on a sporting wicket. As Taskin said after the second ODI, they are no longer playing on a “paddy field”.
