Bangladesh lose way late as Australia seal T20 series

The Tigers fell 7 runs shy, conceding the series to the visitors 2-0

Bangladesh threatened to pull off a stirring chase in Chattogram, but lost their way in the closing stages as Australia sealed the T20I series with a seven-run win.

Chasing 197 at the Flight Lieutenant Shahid Matiur Rahman Chowdhury Cricket Stadium on Friday, Bangladesh reached 100 inside 10 overs and appeared well placed while Parvez Hossain Emon was swinging freely.

But his dismissal for 36 off 22 balls proved the turning point. The Tigers still needed 67 from 43 balls with eight wickets in hand, a manageable equation in T20 cricket, but Australia’s bowlers tightened their grip on the game and the hosts finished on 189-6.

Towhid Hridoy kept Bangladesh alive with 35 off 22 balls, hitting a six and a four in the final over, but the asking rate had already climbed too high.

Earlier, Australia posted 196 after choosing to bat first, powered by Matt Renshaw’s career-best unbeaten 89 off 52 balls. Tim David added a brutal 45 off 26 in a 97-run stand that rescued Australia from 44-3 after the powerplay.

Bangladesh had started brightly with the ball. Nasum Ahmed removed Josh Inglis, Nahid Rana struck early in his second T20I, and Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Mitchell Marsh to leave Australia under pressure.

But Renshaw and David changed the tempo. David attacked Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Nahid with clean hitting, while Renshaw shifted gears after a watchful start, reaching his fifty off 29 balls with three consecutive sixes off Rishad Hossain.

Saqlain eventually dismissed David, but Renshaw carried Australia close to 200, taking 18 from Mustafizur’s final over with two late sixes.

Bangladesh’s chase began with real intent. Tanzid Hasan struck 30 off 15 balls, while Saif Hassan made 42 off 33. Parvez then gave the innings fresh momentum, hitting Adam Zampa for back-to-back sixes and helping Bangladesh surge past 100 in the 10th over.

But after Parvez mistimed Aaron Hardie to Marsh, the chase began to stall. Saif fell to a loose shot against Joel Davies in the next over.

Shamim Hossain managed only seven off eight balls, and Saqlain could not find the late acceleration.

Hardie finished with two wickets as Australia took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The final match will be played at the same venue on Sunday.