The third ODI match between Australia and Bangladesh turned into an absolute thriller. Fans witnessed one of the most exciting cricket matches of the year. Bangladesh already had a 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
However, Australia played with great pride in this final game. In the end, Australia won the match by just 1 wicket with only 3 balls remaining. This victory helped Australia avoid a clean sweep in the series.
Bangladesh Batting: Early Blows by Australian Bowlers
Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat first in this match. However, their start was not ideal at all. Star opener Soumya Sarkar fell very early for just 2 runs. He was clean-bowled by Xavier Bartlett in the very first over.
Soon after, Tanzid Hasan played some good shots on the field. He hit two fours and a six but got out after scoring 19 runs off 20 balls. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also struggled to find his timing and scored 24 runs off 50 balls.
The Great Recovery: Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy Shine
When Bangladesh was in deep trouble at 61 for 3, a big partnership started. Towhid Hridoy and Litton Das joined hands to control the game. Both batsmen played brilliantly against the quality Australian bowling attack.
Litton Das anchored the innings safely from one end of the wickets. He remained not out until the end, scoring a solid 58 runs off 78 balls. He hit four boundaries and two big sixes during his excellent stay.
Towhid Hridoy and Mosaddek Hossain Power the Finish
On the other end, Towhid Hridoy played a fantastic and aggressive knock. He smashed a brilliant 83 runs off 88 balls, including 8 beautiful boundaries. He unfortunately missed his century but set a wonderful platform.
In the final overs, Mosaddek Hossain provided the perfect finish for his team. He scored a quick-fire 56 runs off just 51 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. Bangladesh reached a highly competitive total of 274 for 5.
Australia Chase: Early Wickets Create Huge Pressure
Chasing a target of 275 runs, Australia faced a dangerous roller-coaster ride. Australian captain and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis opened the batting and looked very aggressive. He smashed 4 boundaries to score 21 runs off just 12 balls.
However, bowler Shoriful Islam dismissed him in the 5th over of the chase. On the very next ball, Shoriful Islam shocked Australia again. He bowled out Matt Renshaw for a duck, putting Australia under massive pressure.
Cooper Connolly Stands Tall for Australia
Alex Carey also departed soon after scoring only 8 runs in the match. Australia was struggling badly at 70 for 3 at that moment. At this crucial time, young sensation Cooper Connolly stood up for his country.
Connolly completely dominated the Bangladesh bowlers with his classic shots. He received small but important support from Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 29 runs. Cameron Green also made a useful 27 runs from his side.
Connolly's Legendary Century Keeps Chase Alive
Oliver Peake also contributed a crucial 27 runs for the sixth wicket. He shared a very good and stable partnership with the set batsman. Cooper Connolly smashed 13 glorious fours and 6 massive sixes today.
He played at a brilliant strike rate of 111.19 against the home team. Connolly scored a massive 149 runs off 134 balls in this match. It looked like he would finish the match easily for Australia.
Dramatic Twist: Shoriful Islam's Magical Bowling Spell
When Australia was close to victory, the Bangladeshi bowlers made a dramatic comeback. Shoriful Islam was the chief destroyer for Bangladesh in the death overs. He bowled a magical spell and started picking up quick wickets.
He dismissed Oliver Peake and Xavier Bartlett on consecutive deliveries in the 46th over. Then, Ben Dwarshuis fell to Shoriful Islam after scoring just 4 runs. The match became completely alive and tense.
Nerve-Wracking Finish: Last Over Drama
The biggest twist came in the 49th over of the match. Mustafizur Rahman clean-bowled the set batsman Cooper Connolly for 149 runs. Australia was down at 271 for 9, needing 4 runs with 1 wicket left.
Adam Zampa and Riley Meredith were the last pair on the cricket field. In the final over, Adam Zampa showed great calmness under extreme pressure. On the third ball, Zampa hit a fantastic boundary to win the match.
Conclusion: Bangladesh Wins Series But Australia Redeems Pride
This third ODI match between Australia and Bangladesh will be remembered for a long time. It had everything for the fans, including a great century and a 6-wicket haul. Bangladesh won the ODI series 2-1 overall.
For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam was the absolute star with the ball. He bowled a phenomenal spell, taking 6 wickets for just 48 runs. Australia showed great fighting spirit to win this last game.
Now, we want to hear from you! Who do you think was the real hero of today's match? Was it Cooper Connolly for his 149 runs, or Shoriful Islam for his 6 wickets? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Read Also: Want to know how Bangladesh built their big total?
Click here to read the full first innings match report!
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