Bangladesh beat Australia in the first T20I of the five-match series by 23 runs on Tuesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. It was Bangladesh’s first victory over Australia in the T20I format.
Before this game, Bangladesh played four matches against the Aussies but failed to win any of them.
Australia won the toss and sent Bangladesh bat first, who have posted 131 for six in 20 overs. In reply, Australia tumbled for 108/10 in 20 overs.
Nasum Ahmed, the left-arm spinner, bagged four wickets conceding 19 runs in four overs– his career-best– while Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam took two wickets each.
Bangladesh made a good start while bowling. They have taken three quick wickets to put immense pressure on the tourists.
Off the first ball of the innings, Mahedi Hasan removed Alex Carey for a golden duck. In the next over, Nasum Ahmed removed Josh Philippe for nine off five balls. It was a great stumping effort by Nurul Hasan Sohan.
Being stumped in this innings, Phillippe became the first Australian man cricketer to get stumped in the T2OIs.
Earlier, Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar opened the innings for the hosts.
Bangladesh lost the first wickets in the fourth over when Josh Hazlewood removed Soumay in a rear fashion. The ball was outside off-stump, and Soumya went to play a late cut, but he only managed an edge to the stumps.
Naim fell for 30 off 29 balls with two fours and two sixes. He started well hitting Mitchell Starc for a six off the second ball of the innings. But the left-hander couldn’t continue to do well.
Bangladesh got their biggest partnership at the third wicket stand when Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad added 36 runs.
Mahmudullah was struggling at the wicket which seemingly created pressure on the Bangladesh captain, and he tried to play too many shots. Right after hitting a six, Mahmudullah fell prey to Hazlewood as Moises Henriques took a superb catch.
Afif Hossain scored 23 off 17 and helped the Tigers passed the 130-run mark. Bangladesh eventually ended up on 131 for six in 20 overs.
For Australia, Josh Hazlewood bagged three wickets conceding 24 runs while Mitchell Starc took two.
The second match of the series will take place on August 4 while the other matches will take place on August 6, 7 and nine.
Source: United News of Bangladesh