Taskin, Mustafizur on fire as Australia lose four inside Powerplay

Australia lost four of their top-order batters, with Bangladesh pacers Mustafizur Rahman claiming three and Taskin Ahmed scalping one in the second of their three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today. 

Taskin removed Matthew Short in his first over, before Mustafizur had Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw edge back to the keeper in the next over, as Australia were reduced to three for no runs in two overs for the first time in their ODI history.  

Skipper Josh Inglis and Alex Carey then added 25 runs for their fourth wicket, before the latter was dismissed by Mustafizur in the eighth over.    

Australia reached 38 for four in 10 overs, with Inglis unbeaten on 23 off 27 and Cameron Green not out on one off eight. 

Tigers on top as Australia lose three wickets for no runs for the first time in ODIs

0-3 in 2 overs -- read the scoreboard, and Australia had been on the receiving end of it for the very first time in ODIs. 

Bangladesh made a dream start to the second of their three-match ODI series against Australia at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today, as pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman reduced the visitors to three for naught in just two overs.

The only thing that went Australia's way was the coin toss, after which the visitors elected to bat first.

Riding high on confidence from their convincing victory in the first ODI at the same venue just a day earlier, Bangladesh came out firing.

Taskin struck first by dismissing opener Matthew Short. After having his first three deliveries move away from the right-hander, the pacer brought one back in sharply. Short shouldered arms, only to see his stumps rattled as he registered his third consecutive duck in the format.

Mustafizur then tightened Australia's woes, having Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw edge behind to the wicketkeeper off the first and final deliveries of the next over. Australia were suddenly three down without a run on the board.

In fact, the visitors' first run came from a Taskin no-ball in the following over. Australia eventually crawled to 17 for 3 after five overs.
 

Tigers to bowl first 

Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz lost the toss and the Tigers were asked to bowl first against Australia in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.

A historic series victory beckons for the Tigers, who brushed aside the visitors by 86 runs via the DLS method in the opening ODI on Tuesday, ending a 21-year wait for an ODI win over Australia.

Having snapped that 21-year drought, Bangladesh will now be aiming to secure their first-ever ODI series victory over Australia in what is their fifth bilateral ODI series against the world champions.

A win in either of the remaining two matches would also hand Bangladesh a fourth consecutive ODI series triumph, a feat they last achieved during the 2021-22 period.

For Australia, meanwhile, a series defeat would mark their fifth loss in their last six ODI series.

The hosts have made one change to the side that won the series opener, with out-of-form opener Saif Hassan making way for Soumya Sarkar. Bangladesh have retained their three-pronged pace attack of Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Nahid Rana, while Miraz, Tanvir Islam and Mosaddek Hossain will lead the spin department.

Australia, meanwhile, have made added more pace in their lineup. Riley Meredith will be playing his first ODI since 2021, having replaced seamer Liam Scott. 

The Tigers will take confidence from their commanding performance in the series opener -- their first ODI win over Australia in Mirpur and only their second against the Aussies overall.

The Mirpur surface offered something for both batters and bowlers on Tuesday, but it was the pacers who extracted the most out of it. Speedster Nahid Rana led the charge with a superb 4-41, tearing through the Australian batting lineup.

Earlier, Mosaddek Hossain stole the spotlight with a career-best unbeaten 86 on his return to the ODI side after a four-year absence, helping Bangladesh post a competitive total that laid the foundation for the memorable victory.

Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das (wk), Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Tanvir Islam

Australia XI: Matt Short, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (c & wk), Matt Renshaw, Alex Cary, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith