Bangladesh seal maiden T20 series win over Australia

Bangladesh have won their maiden T20 series against Australia, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead with a narrow victory in a thriller. A fighting fifty by captain Mahmudullah and tight bowling starring a miserly Mustafizur Rahman guided them to the famous win in the 5-match series at Mirpur on Friday.

Australia were 10 runs shy of Bangladesh’s 127 when Mehidy Hasan Miraz capped off the final over of the third match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.

Mehidy, however, was the most expensive bowler bleeding 29 runs in his 3 overs and conceding a six in the final over as Alex Carey (20 off 15) tried to pull the Aussies back in the series.

Shoriful Islam took two, including the scalp of Mitchell Marsh (51 off 47), the only Australian batsman who has been able to fend off the Bangladesh attack in this series.

His pace partner Mustafizur conceded only 9 runs in his 4 overs while spinners Nasum Ahmed and Shakib Al Hasan took one each as the visitors mustered 117 for 4.

Earlier, Shakib (26 off 17) partnered with Mahmudullah in a 44-run stand that guided the Tigers to the meagre total, which appeared a challenging one on this wicket as the first two matches had been a low-scoring affair as well.

Mahmudullah, who opted to bat first, came to the crease when Bangladesh were under pressure having lost openers Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar inside the first 3 overs.

After Shakib’s departure, Bangladesh looked to Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain and Nurul Hasan, to stretch their innings, but the youngsters could not continue their fine form with the bat from the first two games.

The skipper dragged his side to the final over before being bowled by Nathan Ellis for 52.

Debutant Ellis (3 for 34) was the most successful bowler for the tourists but his stunning hat-trick could not help the Aussies snap the dismal losing streak.