Updated ,first published
Australia lost the one-day international series to Bangladesh after their top order was unable to recover from an embarrassing 3-0 start in the second ODI in Dhaka.
On an excellent pitch prepared by Tony Hemming, a former member of the MCG ground staff, the Tigers’ new-ball quicks Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman got rid of Matt Short (his third consecutive ODI duck), Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw before a no-ball opened Australia’s account.
Interim captain Josh Inglis and fellow wicketkeeper Alex Carey added 25 before Carey skewed a shortish ball straight to backward point to leave the visitors staring down the possibility of their lowest completed innings against Bangladesh.
The existing low is 5-198 from 50 overs in 2008, while Australia were restricted to 9-191 before rain curtailed their innings in a big defeat in the opening game of this series.
Bangladesh, incidentally, had made each of the 14 lowest totals in games between the two countries before Thursday’s game.
Short was bowled shouldering arms to a ball that cut back at him, before Connolly and Renshaw both edged deliveries that moved slightly away from them.
Inglis was eventually out for 34, Cameron Green made 25 while fast bowler Xavier Bartlett shaded most of the batsmen with 52 from 48 deliveries. When a rain delay hit with eight overs to go, Australia were 8-187, with Marnus Labuschagne (55) and Nathan Ellis (2) at the crease.
There was nothing in the wicket more threatening than what anyone might expect in the early overs of a 50-over game.
Bangladesh tallied 8-284 batting first on a similar pitch in their 86-run victory in game one.
Australia had left out all-rounder Liam Scott after game one, calling up pace bowler Riley Meredith from outside the originally selected squad and allowing Marnus Labuschagne another chance at No.7.
Set a revised target of 192 in 41 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, Bangladesh recovered from an early setback through Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto, who steadied the innings with identical knocks of 42.
After their departures, Mehidy Hasan Miraz anchored the chase with a captain’s innings, holding firm as wickets fell at the other end. He found support from Towhid Hridoy, with the pair guiding Bangladesh home in 35 overs.
The result handed Bangladesh their first ODI series win over the six-time world champions.
With agencies
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Daniel Brettig is The Age’s chief cricket writer and the author of several books on cricket.Connect via X.