Bangladesh 274 for 5 (Hridoy 83, Litton 58*, Mosaddek 56*) vs Australia
However, to Australia’s credit they did not let the innings run away from them and closed out well – the last five overs brought just 32 runs – although the chase still promised to be challenging for a struggling batting line up.
After Bangladesh had opted to bat, the start followed a familiar pattern with Xavier Bartlett striking second ball when Soumya Sarkar dragged on a drive – it was the fourth opening partnership of the series not to make it beyond the first over.
Life was tricky early against the new ball, but stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Stanto – deputising for the the concussed Mehidy Hasan Miraz – and Tanzid Hasan did well to get through. The shackles were broken in the sixth over when Shanto took Bartlett through midwicket and Tanzid used his feet to send him for six over mid-off.
Runs came steadily through the rest of the first powerplay before Matt Renshaw broke through in his first over when Tanzid’s slog-sweep found mid-on. Renshaw’s offspin has been one of the few plus points for Australia and he struck again when Shanto bottom-edged a sweep into his stumps to leave Bangladesh uncertain on 61 for 3 in the 15th over.
Hridoy and Litton put together a steady fourth-wicket stand, rotating the strike well and picking off the occasional boundary. There was a shift in gear during the 26th over when Litton took Riley Meredith for a four and six in consecutive balls, but there had already been signs of Litton struggling with what appeared to be cramp and he retired hurt in the 32nd over.
As Hridoy worked towards his half-century, Mosaddek was quickly out of the blocks and scoring at a run-a-ball with three boundaries in five balls against Meredith and Ben Dwarshuis. Hridoy had a second ODI century in his sights but picked out deep midwicket and Bangladesh couldn’t quite produce the closing flourish they would have wanted.
Bangladesh had made two changes to their side with fast bowler Nahid Rana rested alongside Mehidy missing out after the blow to the head he took in the second match. Australia dropped Matt Short after three consecutive ducks, going back to the series in Pakistan, and rested Nathan Ellis.
The start of the ODI overlapped with Australia’s FIFA World Cup opening match against Turkey and the local broadcaster prioritised the football on their main channel ahead of the cricket.












