Bangladesh crashes Australia
Bangladesh caught Australia in spin-web to clinch a 23-run victory in the opening game of the five-match T20 Internationals.
Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed led the charge with his career-best
4-19 and his performance was key in helping the side achieve its first
victory against Aussie in this format.
Nasum was complemented by two-wicket haul from left-arm pacers
Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful and one-wicket apiece from spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Failing to deal with the spinners cost Australia the game.
Mitchell Marsh who struck three half-centuries in five-match series
against West Indies, was the only Aussie batsman to come up with some resistance. He made run-a-ball-45 before being out as the sixth
batsman.
The combination of Nasum, Shakib and Mahedi left Australia 11-3 in
just third over with Mahedi breaking through in the first ball,
dismissing Alex Carey for duck.
Nasum had Josh Philippe stumped for 9 and Shakib accounted Moises
Henriques (1) before Marsh started his resistance.
With Shakib and Mahedi denying Australian batsmen to keep the runs
flowing, Nasum ripped through the middle order in a gem of spin
bowling.
Marsh kept the Aussies hope alive with calculated aggression. He
grew with confidence after hitting Shakib a six.
But Nasum Ahmed claimed the prized wicket of Marsh in his last over
when he went for a slog-sweep.
Marsh’s dismissal effectively ended Australia’s chance to win the
game. Mustafizur and Shoriful then took care of Australia’s lower
order.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s positive start was undermined by the
batsmen’s reckless shot against the world class bowling attack after
they were asked to bat first.
Shakib Al Hasan top-scored with 36 off 33, hitting three fours and
opener Naim Sheikh struck 29 ball-30, clobbering two fours and as many
sixes. Afif Hossain was the other notable scorer with 16 ball-23 not
out with three fours.