Connolly 149 powers Australia to thrilling win and avoid Bangladesh clean sweep

The Tigers’ bowlers come within touching distance of a famous finish but Australia’s lower order hold firm under pressure

Bangladesh are left to rue a spirited bowling display as Shoriful Islam’s 6-wicket haul nearly engineered a famous collapse, only for Australia’s tail to scramble them to a 1-wicket victory in a tense Dhaka finish that still secured the Tigers a 2-1 ODI series win.

Chasing control one moment and chaos the next, Australia leaned heavily on Cooper Connolly’s maiden ODI century at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.

The left-hander struck 149 off 134 balls, laced with 13 fours and 6 sixes, and at one stage looked set to finish the contest in style after smashing Taskin Ahmed for three successive sixes in the 45th over.

But Bangladesh refused to fold.

Shoriful ripped through the lower order, removing Oliver Peake and Xavier Bartlett in consecutive deliveries before trapping Ben Dwarshuis at point in the 48th over, leaving Australia wobbling after losing 4 wickets for 5 runs.

The chase swung again when Mustafizur Rahman eventually ended Connolly’s resistance, the batter bowled off an inside edge after a long spell waiting off strike.

However, Australia survived with Adam Zampa squeezing a delivery through the off side to seal victory with two runs needed.

[Updates to follow]