Bangladesh ended a 21-year wait by securing a dominant 86-run victory over Australia (via the DLS method) in the first one-day international on Tuesday. The emphatic win at the Shere Bangla National Stadium gives the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
This marks only the second time Bangladesh has defeated Australia in the ODI format, their first victory being the famous "Cardiff Miracle" in June 2005. Unlike that historic upset, Tuesday’s win was a display of complete home dominance.
The triumph was anchored by an incredible comeback from Mosaddek Hossain and a fiery spell of fast bowling from Nahid Rana.
Mosaddek and Rana Shine
Returning to the national squad after four years, Mosaddek celebrated with a career-best, unbeaten 86 off 70 balls, lifting Bangladesh to a competitive 284-8. He later contributed with the ball, taking two crucial wickets.
During the chase Australia had no answer to the sheer pace of Nahid Rana. Clocking speeds over 150 kph the young pacer claimed 4 for 41, ripping through the visitor's batting lineup and leaving them entirely unsettled.
A Disastrous Chase for the Visitors
Australia’s run chase began terribly. Pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed bowled opener Matt Short on the very first delivery of the innings. Mustafizur Rahman followed up in the next over by trapping Marnus Labuschagne lbw.
Rana then took over claiming the wicket of stand-in captain Josh Inglis. Australia never recovered from the early blows. Wickets fell at regular intervals and only Cameron Green offered meaningful resistance fighting a lonely battle to remain unbeaten on 52.
Australia was reeling at 191-9 when a thunderstorm halted play, handing Bangladesh an 86-run win under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Earlier, after being asked to bat, Bangladesh lost an early wicket but stabilized through a 96-run partnership between captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (67) and Tanzid Hasan. Both batters played aggressively against the Australian seamers.
After a mid-innings collapse left the Tigers at 140-4, Mosaddek Hossain took control. Partnering with Tawhid Hridoy (31), Mosaddek capitalized on Australia's uncharacteristically sloppy fielding the visitors dropped four catches during the innings. He struck seven boundaries and three sixes to ensure a strong finish.
Australia is fielding a depleted squad for this series, missing regular captain Mitchell Marsh due to an ankle injury, alongside spinner Tanveer Sangha and rested opener Travis Head.
The two teams will face off in the second ODI on Thursday in Mirpur.
