The third and final ODI match between Bangladesh and Australia is turning out to be a very exciting contest. Bangladesh already leads the three-match series by 2-0, and they have a wonderful chance to complete a historic clean sweep. Winning the toss, the Bangladesh captain decided to bat first on a pitch that looked good for putting up a big score.
The decision to bat first showed the confidence of the home side. They wanted to put the Australian team under pressure from the very beginning of the game. Even though things did not start exactly according to their plan, the middle-order batsmen showed great character and fought hard to take the team to a very respectable total after their fifty overs.
A Very Shaky Start for the Home Team
Bangladesh did not get the start they were hoping for in this crucial match. Xavier Bartlett bowled a beautiful delivery in the very first over of the match to dismiss Soumya Sarkar. Sarkar could only score two runs from four balls before his stumps were disturbed, leaving the stadium in complete silence.
After the early shock, Tanzid Hasan tried to stabilize the innings with some positive intent. He scored 19 runs off 20 balls, including two boundaries and one beautiful six. However, his stay at the crease was cut short when he was caught by Riley Meredith off Matt Renshaw’s bowling, leaving Bangladesh in a tough spot early on.
Captain Shanto Struggles to Find His Timing
Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain of the Bangladesh team, came out with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He tried his best to hold one end secure and stop the wickets from falling. It was a very slow and difficult grind for him as the Australian bowlers kept a tight line and length.
Shanto could only manage to score 24 runs, and he took 50 balls to get those runs. He hit three boundaries during his stay but never really looked comfortable against the spinning and swinging ball. He was eventually bowled by Matt Renshaw, which put Bangladesh under immense pressure at 61 runs for the loss of three wickets.
Litton Das Plays a Superb Anchoring Innings
When the team was struggling badly, Litton Das stepped up like a true experienced batsman. He understood the situation perfectly and decided to play the role of an anchor. Instead of playing risky shots, he focused on rotating the strike and building a partnership to rescue the team.
Litton remained unbeaten until the very end of the innings, scoring a fantastic 58 runs from 78 deliveries. His mature innings included four boundaries and two massive sixes that delighted the crowd. He kept his cool under immense pressure and ensured that Bangladesh did not collapse after the early setbacks.
Towhid Hridoy Changes the Momentum Completely
The real turning point of the first innings was the brilliant partnership between Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy. Hridoy came out with an aggressive mindset and completely shifted the pressure back onto the Australian bowlers. He started finding the gaps easily and scored at a very healthy strike rate.
Hridoy was the highest scorer for Bangladesh, making a brilliant 83 runs off just 88 balls. He smashed eight beautiful boundaries during his stay at the crease before getting caught by Alex Carey off Ben Dwarshuis. His brilliant knock completely changed the momentum of the game and gave the fans a lot to cheer about.
M. Hossain Provides a Brilliant Late Flourish
After Towhid Hridoy got out in the 46th over, Bangladesh needed a strong finish to get a big total. M.Hossain walked out to the middle and did exactly what the team required. He played a quick-fire innings that caught the Australian death-bowlers completely off guard.
Mosaddek scored a rapid 56 runs from just 51 balls, hitting five boundaries and one huge six. His aggressive batting in the final overs helped Bangladesh cross the 250-run mark easily. He stayed not out till the end, making sure that his team finished the fifty overs on a very high note.
Australia's Mixed Performance in the Bowling Department
The Australian bowling attack had a game of two halves in this match. They started brilliantly by picking up three quick wickets and keeping the scoring rate very low. Matt Renshaw was quite impressive in the middle overs, taking two crucial wickets for 44 runs in his nine overs.
Xavier Bartlett also bowled well at the start and the end, finishing with figures of two wickets for 47 runs. However, the other bowlers struggled to keep things tight in the death overs. The team also gave away 29 extra runs, including 18 wide balls, which really helped Bangladesh build a bigger score.
The Exciting Final Overs Drama
The last few overs of the Bangladesh innings were filled with a lot of action and entertainment. In the 48th over, Australia managed to get the wicket of Mahedi Hasan, who was caught by Cameron Green off Bartlett's bowling after scoring just 3 runs. But that did not stop the scoring rate.
The 49th and 50th overs brought some crucial runs for the home side through smart running and a few boundaries. Mahedi Hossain and Litton Das took full advantage of some loose deliveries from the Australian fast bowlers. They managed to finish their fifty overs at a strong total of 274 runs for the loss of five wickets.
What to Expect from the Australian Run Chase
Chasing 275 runs to win an ODI match is never an easy task, especially when playing away from home. The pitch seems to have something in it for both the batsmen and the bowlers. Australia will need a very strong and stable start from their opening batsmen if they want to cross the line.
On the other hand, the Bangladesh bowlers will be extremely confident after their team's great batting recovery. They have a quality bowling attack that knows exactly how to bowl on this surface. It is going to be a fascinating battle between the Australian batters and the passionate Bangladesh bowling unit.
Do you think Bangladesh can successfully defend this total and complete a 3-0 whitewash against Australia, or will the Australian batsmen chase this down easily? Let me know your predictions in the comments section below!
Also Check: Read our full report on Sri Lanka's brilliant 37-run victory over West Indies by
clicking here. 
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