Bangladesh achieved a historic 86-run (DLS method) victory over Australia in the opening ODI at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
The victory came 15 years after Bangladesh last played a bilateral ODI series against Australia and ended a 21-year wait for a win in this format against them.
Since the famous Cardiff victory in 2005, Bangladesh has not managed another ODI win over Australia until now.
Defending 284 for 8, the hosts consistently chipped away at Australia’s batting lineup, reducing them to 191 for 9 before a thunderstorm and rain ended the match early.
The afternoon belonged to Nahid Rana, whose raw pace and accuracy tore through the Australian middle order.
Consistently bowling above 146 kph, the young speedster tore through a star-studded lineup to finish with match-winning figures of 4 for 41 from his 10 overs.
Australia’s chase ran into trouble on the very first ball of the innings when Taskin Ahmed bowled Matthew Short for a duck.
Mustafizur Rahman added to the visitors' early woes shortly after, trapping Marnus Labuschagne leg-before for 1 to leave the tourists reeling at 2 for 2.
Captain Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly briefly steadied the ship, putting on a small partnership before Nahid Rana turned the match firmly in Bangladesh's favor.
He broke through by extracting sharp bounce from a hard length at 147.9 kph, forcing a faint outside edge from Inglis straight to wicketkeeper Litton Das.
The dismissal triggered an intense exchange of words between the batsman and bowler, forcing teammates and fielders to step in and diffuse the situation.
Nahid Rana returned in his second spell to deliver a decisive double-blow that killed off the chase.
He first removed a well-set Alex Carey for 47 with a 146 kph wobble-seam delivery that straightened just enough to catch the outside edge.
Two overs later, he used his height to dismiss Liam Scott, extracting a sharp, rearing delivery from the back of a length that Scott could only fend to Towhid Hridoy, who took a brilliant diving catch at gully.
The pacer completed his four-wicket haul by rushing Xavier Bartlett with a ferocious 148.5 kph short ball directed at the ribs.
Hurried by the pace, Bartlett spooned a simple catch off the handle to Tanzid Hasan at square leg, leaving Australia stranded at 140 for 8.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh posted a competitive total on the back of an unbeaten 86 from Mosaddek Hossain and half-centuries from Najmul Hossain Shanto (67) and Tanzid Hasan (54).
Nathan Ellis bowled exceptionally well under pressure for Australia, taking 3 for 38, but his efforts were ultimately overshadowed by Mosaddek's late hitting and Nahid Rana’s subsequent burst.
Cameron Green offered some late resistance with an unbeaten 52, but he lacked support as the rest of the lineup crumbled against a disciplined, multi-pronged home attack.
With the victory, Bangladesh takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
MSH
