Bangladesh scripted cricket history at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, securing their first-ever ODI series victory against Australia with a thrilling five-wicket win in the second match.
A sensational opening spell by pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman left the visitors reeling at an extraordinary 0 for 3, eventually restricting them to 187 for 8 before rain interrupted play. Chasing a rain-adjusted DLS target of 192, Bangladesh crossed the finish line at 195 for 5 with plenty of overs to spare, sparking wild celebrations across the country.
The match began with absolute drama. Taskin Ahmed (3-33) set the tone by clean-bowling Matthew Short for a duck on the final ball of the first over. Mustafizur Rahman (3-27) then delivered a double-blow in the very next over, dismissing Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw for ducks on successive deliveries. Australia became only the fourth team in ODI history to lose three wickets before opening their account.
Mustafizur struck again in the eighth over, removing Alex Carey to leave Australia gasping at 25 for 4. While skipper Josh Inglis countered with a brisk 34, spinner Tanvir Islam kept the pressure on by removing both Inglis and Cameron Green.
Australia's rescue act came via an unlikely 103-run seventh-wicket partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett. Labuschagne anchored the innings with a gritty, unbeaten 55, while Bartlett played the aggressor, smashing 52 off just 48 balls. Taskin eventually broke the dangerous stand in the 41st over, picking up Bartlett and Adam Zampa in consecutive deliveries right before a heavy downpour halted play.
Following a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay, Bangladesh's chase began dynamically despite Tanzid Hasan falling first ball to Bartlett. Recalled opener Soumya Sarkar (42) and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (42) put on a commanding exhibition of strokeplay, punishing the Australian attack with elegant drives and powerful sixes.
Though Australia fought back with a flurry of quick wickets—Renshaw removing Soumya, Riley Meredith accounting for Shanto, and Cameron Green dismissing Litton Das (21)—the target remained firmly within reach. Mosaddek Hossain fell cheaply, leaving the hosts slightly nervous at 144 for 5.
However, Towhid Hridoy (40* off 34) and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (14*) showed immense composure to shut the door on Australia. Hridoy broke the tension by hammering Meredith for a six and a four in the final stages, before Miraz sealed the historic series victory in style, hooking Meredith over the boundary rope to write a glorious new chapter in Bangladesh cricket.
