Shoddy Australia mauled by Bangladesh Tigers

Steve Barrett |

Cam Green played a lone hand with the tail as Australia struggled to reach the target in Bangladesh.
Cam Green played a lone hand with the tail as Australia struggled to reach the target in Bangladesh.

Australia have crashed to their first ODI loss against Bangladesh in 21 years, crushed by 86 runs (DLS method) in the opening match of their three-game series.

Bangladesh, hosting Australia in a men’s ODI for the first time since 2011, posted a formidable 8-284 after being sent in at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday, before restricting the tourists to 9-191 from 42.2 overs when lightning and rain ended play.

It was Bangladesh’s second victory in 23 ODIs against Australia, alongside their famous 2005 run chase in Cardiff.

Australia batted poorly, their fielding was shoddy and their bowling looked pedestrian compared to Bangladesh, who were spearheaded by firebrand Nahid Rana (4-41).

Nahid Rana
Bangladesh quick Nahid Rana caused the tourists problem with his express pace. (AP PHOTO)

Nahid, mentored by Bangladesh bowling coach and former Aussie speedster Shaun Tait, troubled all the tourists with his express pace which exceeded 150km/hr.

Cameron Green (52 not out) posted his fourth ODI half-century, while Alex Carey (47) and Cooper Connolly (35) failed to capitalise on promising starts.

“Disappointing total on our part,” acting Australian captain Josh Inglis said.

“We dropped four or five catches. I thought if it (Bangladesh score) was somewhere around 230-240 it was very chaseable.

“We didn’t have a big partnership to get us close. Disappointing day all-round.”

Australia’s reply started horribly when Matt Short was bowled through the gate by Taskin Ahmed off the innings’ first ball.

Then in the second over, Marnus Labuschagne (1) continued his horror patch when he was adjudged lbw to Mustafizur Rahman on a successful Bangladesh review.

Nathan Ellis
Nathan Ellis was the pick of Australia’s bowlers with Saif Hassan the first of his three wickets. (AP PHOTO)

Labuschagne, who tallied 24 runs at 8.00 in Australia’s recent 2-1 series loss in Pakistan, is averaging 11.64 in his last 17 ODIs stretching back to 2024.

Inglis (19) nicked off to Nahid before the pair exchanged words as the Bangladeshi paceman gave the Aussie skipper a send-off.

When Carey edged Nahid to wicketkeeper Litton Das, the result was academic.

Mossadek starred with the bat in his first international in four years, capitalising on four dropped catches and two missed run-out opportunities to smash a career-best 86 not out off 70 balls.

Connolly, substitute Ollie Peake, debutant Liam Scott and Adam Zampa all spilled chances to let Mossadek off the hook.

Najmal Hossain Shanto (67) was grassed on nine by Labuschagne at second slip and made Australia pay, sharing a rapid 96-run second-wicket stand with Tanzid Hasan (54) following the early loss of Saif Hassan (5).

Scott claimed his maiden international wicket when he trapped Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3) lbw.

Nathan Ellis (3-38) was the pick of the Australian bowlers, while part-time tweaker Matt Renshaw (2-35) was useful in the middle overs.

The second ODI is in Dhaka on Thursday.

AAP