Bangladesh beat Australia to claim historic first ODI series victory
Bangladesh secured a landmark first ODI series victory against six-time world champions Australia by clinching a five-wicket win in a rain-hit match in Dhaka.
The hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after comfortably chasing down a revised target of 192 from 41 overs.
Stand-in captain Josh Inglis watched his side endure a catastrophic start after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Historic top-order collapse
The touring side suffered a spectacular batting failure, losing their top three batters without scoring a single run.
Pace duo Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman dismantled the top order, dismissing Matthew Short, Cooper Connolly, and Matthew Renshaw for ducks.
In a stunning statistical rarity, it was only the fourth time in international cricket history that a team has lost all three opening batters for zero.
The visitors found themselves reeling at 81-6 before Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett mounted a crucial recovery.
Labuschagne anchors the innings
The resilient middle-order pair combined for a 103-run partnership to drag their struggling team towards a respectable total of 187-8.
Labuschagne compiled a patient, unbeaten 55 from 85 deliveries to stabilise the visitors.
Bartlett also struck a vital half-century before being bowled by Ahmed, shortly before a torrential downpour forced a three-hour delay.
Hosts cruise to target
Despite losing opening batter Tanzid Hasan to a two-ball duck, the home side faced little difficulty in navigating the revised run chase.
Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto laid the foundation with crucial knocks of 42 runs each.
An unbeaten partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz ultimately guided the Tigers across the finish line.
This latest defeat compounds a miserable tour for the reigning World Cup holders, who continue to struggle without injured regular captain Mitchell Marsh.
