Roaring Tigers crush Australia to secure landmark ODI series

Bangladesh created another landmark in their cricket history by clinching their first ever ODI series against Australia with a five-wicket victory on the DLS method in the second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The triumph extended Bangladesh's run to four consecutive ODI series victories, keeping them firmly on making a direct qualification to the 2027 World Cup.

After electing to bat first, Australia reached 187-8 in 42 overs before the rain-interruption. Bangladesh were set a revised target of 192 for victory in 41 overs and they chased it down, leaving 36 balls unused to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Bangladesh which won the first match by 86 runs, also on DLS method, will look to sweep the series when the two sides meet on Sunday in the final ODI.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia endured a disastrous start, slumping to 0-3 inside the first two overs - the worst opening in their ODI history.

Marnus Labuschagne returned to the form when his service needed most, hitting his first fifty after 2024 and Xavier Bartlett hammered a maiden half-century to lead Australia recovery from a position of embarrassment.

After Australia reeling to 81-6, they added 103 runs for the seventh wicket to help the visitors avoid a shamble.

Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed struck first, dismissing Matthew Short for his third successive duck when the opener shouldered arms to a delivery that crashed into his stumps in the third ball of the innings.

Mustafizur Rahman then ripped through the top order, removing Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw in his opening over to leave Australia reeling without a run on the board.

The left-arm seamer added the wicket of Alex Carey after the wicketkeeper-batter and captain Josh Inglis had put on a brief 25-run partnership to steady the innings.

Inglis (34) and Cameron Green (25) attempted to rebuild the innings, but left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam struck twice in quick succession to dismiss both batters and reduce Australia to 81-6.

Just when Bangladesh looked poised to wrap up the innings quickly, Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett launched a spirited counterattack. The pair added 103 runs for the seventh wicket, reviving Australia's fortunes and frustrating the home side.

Both batters brought up half-centuries during the stand. Bartlett played an aggressive knock of 52 from 48 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes, while Labuschagne reached his 13th fifty, playing with unwavering resolve.

Taskin returned for a decisive second spell and removed Bartlett before striking again off the very next delivery to take the wicket of Adam Jampa and halted Australia's resurgence.

Rain then forced the players off the field with Labuschagne unbeaten on 54, leaving Australia on 187-8.

Taskin and Mustafizur finished with three wickets each, while Tanvir claimed two wickets.

Chasing the revised target, Bangladesh suffered an early setback when Bartlett removed Tanzid Hasan Tamim for a duck with the second ball of the innings.

However, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Soumya Sarkar, recalled to the side in place of Saif Hassan, settled the chase with an 86-run partnership for the second wicket. Both batters scored 42 before departing in quick succession.

Towhid Hridoy then anchored the innings with an unbeaten 40. Australia briefly sensed an opening when Cameron Green dismissed Liton Das for 21 and Adam Zampa removed first-ODI hero Mosaddek Hossain Saikat for 15, leaving Bangladesh at 144-5.

But Hridoy and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz combined in an unbroken partnership to guide the hosts home without further alarm. 

Miraz fittingly sealed the historic victory with a six as Bangladesh finished on 195-5 and celebrated a memorable series-clinching win over Australia.