Bangladesh created history on Friday by defeating Australia in their first-ever ODI series. The Tigers secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with a dominant performance in the second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
Dominant Display
Chasing a target of 275, Bangladesh rode on a brilliant century from skipper Tamim Iqbal to reach the target with five wickets in hand. Tamim scored 112 off 129 balls, his 14th ODI century, to guide the team home. Mushfiqur Rahim also chipped in with a crucial 68 as the hosts chased down the target with ease.
Earlier, Australia had posted 274 for 7 in their 50 overs, thanks to a fighting 89 from Steve Smith and 65 from Marnus Labuschagne. However, the Australian batting lineup failed to capitalize on a solid start, with the middle order collapsing under pressure from the Bangladesh spinners.
Record-Breaking Series
This series win is Bangladesh's first against Australia in ODIs. The Tigers had previously come close in 2011 when they drew a series 1-1 at home. Now, they have the chance to whitewash Australia for the first time in ODIs. The third and final ODI will be played on Monday at the same venue.
Bangladesh's spin trio of Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taijul Islam were instrumental in the series win. They picked up 12 of the 20 Australian wickets to fall in the two matches. Shakib, in particular, has been in sublime form, scoring 93 runs and taking 4 wickets in the series so far.
Eyeing a Massive Record
With this series win, Bangladesh has now won three consecutive ODI series at home. They had earlier defeated West Indies and Sri Lanka. The Tigers are now eyeing a massive record of winning 10 consecutive home series, which would put them in an elite club alongside Australia, India, and South Africa.
Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal expressed his delight at the historic achievement. He said, "This is a special moment for us. Beating Australia in a series is something we have dreamt of for a long time. The boys have worked hard and it's paying off. We are looking forward to the next game and hoping to finish the series on a high."
Australia captain Aaron Finch admitted that his team was outplayed. He said, "Bangladesh played better cricket than us. We had our chances but we didn't grab them. The spinners were tough to handle on these pitches. We need to learn from this and come back stronger."
The series win has also boosted Bangladesh's chances of qualifying directly for the 2027 ODI World Cup. They currently sit in the top eight of the ICC ODI rankings, and a clean sweep against Australia would further strengthen their position.
