Australia’s spinners delivered a clinical performance to outclass Bangladesh by four wickets in the opening T20 International, securing a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at Bir Shrestha Shahid Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman Stadium on Wednesday.
After opting to bat first, Bangladesh struggled badly against a relentless Australian spin attack and were bundled out for just 131 in 19 overs. The visitors then chased down the target comfortably, reaching 133-6 with 10 balls to spare.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa and left-arm spinner Joel Davis starred with three wickets each, dismantling Bangladesh’s batting lineup with remarkable control. Part-time off-spinner Matt Renshaw chipped in with two wickets, while debutant leg-spinner Nikhil Chaudhary added one in an impressive collective display that saw Australia’s spin quartet account for nine of the 10 wickets.
Stand-in Bangladesh captain Towhid Hridoy, leading in place of injured skipper Liton Das, won the toss and chose to bat but failed to capitalize, falling for just eight as the hosts slipped into early trouble at 57-3.
Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim departed for 10 after falling to pacer Spencer Johnson in the third over, while Saif Hasan looked promising during his 20-run stay before Renshaw removed him.
The decisive blow came in the middle overs as Zampa and Davis triggered a dramatic collapse, reducing Bangladesh sharply by taking five wickets for only 40 runs.
Lower-order batter Mahedi Hasan offered the only notable resistance with a fighting 29, helping Bangladesh push past 130 after appearing destined for an even smaller total.
Australia’s chase began shakily as returning captain Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis fell cheaply, briefly raising Bangladesh’s hopes.
But rising all-rounder Cooper Connolly once again proved decisive, continuing his outstanding tour with a fluent 47 off just 27 deliveries, smashing four boundaries and three sixes.
Connolly combined with hard-hitting batter Tim David for a crucial 40-run fourth-wicket partnership that steadied Australia and put the chase firmly back on track.
Bangladesh found a bright spot through debutant left-arm pacer Abdul Gaffar, who impressed by removing both Connolly and Renshaw to finish with figures of 2-32 in his maiden international appearance.
However, Australia remained firmly in control, with Xavier Bartlett eventually sealing victory by driving Gaffar through mid-off for the winning boundary.
The second T20 of the series will be played at the same venue on Friday as Bangladesh look to bounce back and keep the contest alive.
