Hridoy, Litton and Mosaddek carry Bangladesh to 274 in quest for 3-0
Bangladesh Eyes Historic Clean Sweep After Strong Batting Display
Bangladesh put themselves in an excellent position to secure a historic 3-0 series whitewash against Australia, posting a competitive total of 274 for 5 in the final One Day International. In an innings defined by grit, tactical partnerships, and late-overs acceleration, the hosts overcame early setbacks to set a challenging target on a taxing day in Mirpur.
After opting to bat first, Bangladesh found themselves under immediate pressure but recovered brilliantly. The cornerstone of the innings was built on two significant partnerships, as Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, and Mosaddek Hossain all made substantial contributions. Despite the oppressive heat and humidity, which took a physical toll on the players, Bangladesh’s middle order showed tremendous resolve to keep the Australian bowlers at bay for major portions of the game.
Early Setbacks and Spin Trouble
The match began in a familiar and rather disappointing fashion for the hosts. Australia’s Xavier Bartlett struck with just the second ball of the match, dismissing Soumya Sarkar for a duck. Sarkar dragged an ambitious drive onto his own stumps, marking the fourth time in this series that Bangladesh’s opening partnership failed to survive the opening over. This early blow immediately put the pressure back on the top order.
Stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, leading the side in place of the concussed Mehidy Hasan Miraz, joined Tanzid Hasan to rebuild the innings. The duo played cautiously against the moving new ball before breaking the shackles in the sixth over. Shanto struck Bartlett through midwicket for a boundary, while Tanzid stepped down the track to loft him over mid-off for a clean six. The pair looked comfortable as they navigated the remainder of the first powerplay, accumulating runs steadily.
However, the introduction of Matt Renshaw’s off-spin proved to be a turning point. In his very first over, Renshaw broke the partnership when Tanzid’s attempted slog-sweep found the fielder at mid-on. Renshaw struck again in his next over, removing Shanto for a hard-fought innings. The stand-in skipper bottom-edged a sweep shot onto his own stumps, leaving Bangladesh in a precarious position at 61 for 3 in the 15th over.
The Stabilizing Stand: Hridoy and Litton
With three wickets down, Bangladesh desperately needed a partnership to anchor the innings. Towhid Hridoy and Litton Das stepped up to the task, putting together a highly disciplined fourth-wicket stand of 92 runs. The pair focused on rotating the strike, keeping the scoreboard ticking, and punishing the rare loose deliveries from the Australian bowlers.
As the partnership progressed, the batsmen began to accelerate. The 26th over, bowled by Riley Meredith, saw Litton shift gears in spectacular fashion, smashing a four and a six off consecutive deliveries. However, the extreme heat and humidity in Mirpur began to take a severe toll on Litton. Suffering from severe muscle cramps, the right-hander was visibly struggling and was eventually forced to retire hurt in the 32nd over after scoring a crucial, unbeaten half-century. He would later return in the 49th over to finish on 58 not out.
Mosaddek’s Impetus and Hridoy’s Class
Litton’s sudden departure could have halted Bangladesh’s momentum, but Mosaddek Hossain ensured the run rate did not drop. Coming off an impressive return to the national setup, Mosaddek immediately took the attack to the Australian bowlers. He was quick off the blocks, scoring at a run-a-ball pace and hitting three boundaries in five deliveries against the pace of Meredith and Ben Dwarshuis.
At the other end, Hridoy continued his classy accumulation, moving steadily toward what looked like a deserved second ODI century. Together, Hridoy and Mosaddek added a rapid 93 runs off just 83 balls, keeping Australia’s bowlers searching for answers in the grueling conditions. Mosaddek brought up a brilliant half-century off just 42 deliveries, providing the perfect impetus to the back half of the innings.
Hridoy’s magnificent knock of 83 came to an end when he holed out to deep midwicket, missing out on a century but leaving his team in a highly commanding position.
Australia’s Death Bowling and Team Selections
Although Bangladesh looked set for a massive finish, Australia’s bowlers clawed their way back in the final overs. The visitors executed their death-overs plans superbly, conceding just 32 runs in the last five overs. The disciplined bowling prevented Bangladesh from crossing the 290-mark, keeping the target within a chaseable range for the Australian batting lineup.
In terms of team selection, both sides made key adjustments for this final fixture:
- Bangladesh: Rested fast bowler Nahid Rana and were forced to play without Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was ruled out following a blow to the head in the second ODI.
- Australia: Dropped batsman Matt Short following three consecutive ducks (dating back to the series in Pakistan) and rested bowler Nathan Ellis.
Interestingly, the start of this crucial ODI coincided with Australia’s FIFA World Cup opening match against Turkey. As a result, the local Australian broadcaster prioritized the football coverage on their main channel, leaving cricket fans to find alternative viewing options for this thrilling contest.
