Bangladesh beat Australia by five wickets in the second T20. The victory came with eight balls in hand.
The target was 122 runs. Though the Tigers lost 5 wickets in 18.4 overs but finally they scored 123 runs.
However, Bangladesh stumbled at the beginning to chase the target. The hosts lost two Tiger openers Soumya Sarkar (0) and Naeem Sheikh (9) by 21 runs. Shakib Al Hasan hinted at holding the helm of the team with the bat to save the team from the danger of batting collapse.
However, the world's best all-rounder could not last long. Shakib was bowled by Andrew Tye in an innings of 28 runs. Mehdi Hasan also could not settle for wickets in the need of the team with a hint of batting strength. Mehedi could not score more than 23 runs. In the third wicket partnership, both of them scored 36 runs.
When Mehedi Hasan returned to pavillion, the team lost 5 wickets for 67 runs and reached the edge of the ditch again. Afif Hossain and Nurul Hasan Sohan led the team with a 40-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Afif left the field only after winning the innings by playing a mastarly innings which did not accept the loss of 36 * runs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sohan remained unbeaten on 22 * with him.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Ashton Agar, Adam Jampa and Andrew Tye took one wicket each in the Australian jersey.
Earlier, Australia threw a target of 122 runs in front of Bangladesh to win. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the visitors lost 6 wickets at the end of the allotted 20 overs and averaged 121 runs.
Australia did not have a good start after winning the toss and opting to bat. The visitors lost two wickets for 31 runs. Opener Alex Kerry left for 13 runs. Mehdi Hasan brought him a breakthrough by returning him for 11 runs. Mustafizur Rahman took the wicket of Josh Phillips, another opening batsman who scored 10 runs.
Mitchell Marsh was fighting with the bat after overcoming the danger of the team. He could not finish with a hint of a big innings. Like the first match, the top-order batsman could not touch the fifth in the second match as well. He made his way to the dressing room with 45 runs equal to the previous match. Marsh was caught by Nurul Hasan behind the wicket with Shariful's ball.
Moyes Henriques returned bold after adding 30 runs to Shakib Al Hasan's spin. Henriques returned only after averaging an impeccable partnership of 56 runs for the third wicket before being dismissed. After that the batting collapsed in the Australian camp. Only Mitchell Starc (13 *) touched two figures among the rest of the batsmen.
Star pacer Mustafizur Rahman has taken three wickets alone. Young fast bowler Shariful Islam bagged two wickets. Shakib Al Hasan and Mehedi Hasan took one wicket each.
Short Score:
Australia: 121/7, 20 overs (Philip 10, Carey 11, Marsh 45, Henriques 30, Stark 13 *; Mehdi 1/12, Shakib 1/22, Mustafiz 3/23 and Shariful 2/26).
Bangladesh: 123/5, 18.4 overs (Shakib 28, Mehedi 23, Afif 36 *, Sohan 22 *; (Stark 1/27, Hazlewood 1/21, Agar 1/17, Jampa 1/24 and tie 1/26) .
Result: Bangladesh won by 5 wickets.
Player of the match: Afif Hossain.