MIRPUR: Copper Connolly’s sublime 149 triumphed Shoriful Islam’s six-wicket haul to seal a nail-biting victory in the final ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 275, Australia got off to a flying start, with skipper Josh Inglis and Connolly racing to 40 inside four overs.
However, Shoriful’s two in an over dented the visitors’ progress. He first removed Inglis, who made 12 before dismissing Renshaw for a duck.
With Australia two wickets down, Alex Carey (8) and Connolly provided brief resistance, adding a 30-run partnership that culminated with the former’s wicket.
Bangladesh continued to chip through Australia’s middle order, but left-handed Connoly remained firm and reached his half-century.
Bangladesh continued to chip away at Australia’s middle order, but left-handed Connolly remained firm and reached his half-century.
He stringed three half-century stands alongside Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, and Oliver Peake to keep his side in the hunt. In doing so, he notched up his maiden century.
It was Shoriful again who struck thrice in the 46th and 48th over to lift Bangladesh. Connoly was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over after scoring 149 off 134, striking six maximums and 13 fours.
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With the visitors needing just three runs and only one wicket in hand, Adam Zampa struck a boundary off the third ball to seal an emphatic win.
For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam bowled wonderfully and picked up six wickets in his 10 overs.
Earlier, Towhid Hridoy struck a composed 83 to anchor Bangladesh’s innings of 274-5 after a nervous start against Australia in the final ODI match in Mirpur on Sunday.
Litton Das (58 off 78 balls) and Mosaddek Hossain (56 off 51) also contributed unbeaten half-centuries to give the hosts a competitive total in the dead rubber, with Bangladesh having already clinched the three-match series.
Bangladesh, missing regular captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz due to concussion, had a torrid start when Xavier Bartlett bowled opener Soumya Sarkar for two in the first over.
Tanzid Hasan and stand-in skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto steadied the innings with a 51-run second-wicket stand before Matt Renshaw struck twice in quick succession to leave Bangladesh reeling at 61-3.
Tanzid fell for 19, caught by Riley Meredith at mid-on after top-edging a sweep off Renshaw, who then trapped Shanto lbw for 24.
Hridoy held Bangladesh together through the middle overs with his 88-ball innings.
He shared a 92-run fourth-wicket partnership with Litton before the wicketkeeper-batter retired hurt with cramp on 48.
Hridoy went on to reach his 13th ODI half-century in an innings that included eight fours.
Litton returned to bring up his first ODI fifty at Mirpur, finishing with 58 off 78 balls and striking four fours and two sixes.
Mosaddek provided a late flourish and was unbeaten on 56 off 51 deliveries, including five fours and a six, his fourth ODI half-century in ODI cricket.
Bartlett and Renshaw picked up two wickets apiece for Australia.
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