Bangladesh secure historic ODI series win over Australia

Australia 187-8 (42 overs): Labuschagne 55*; Mustafizur 3-27

Bangladesh 195-5 (35 overs): Soumya 42, Shanto 41

Bangladesh won by five wickets (DLS method); lead series 2-0

Scorecard

Bangladesh claimed their first one-day international series win against Australia with a five-wicket victory in the second game in Mirpur.

The hosts, who won their first 50-over match against Australia in 21 years in the series opener, had lost all four of their previous ODI series against the six-time World Cup winners 3-0.

Their only previous match win was in a tri-series with England in 2005, but back-to-back victories means a first ODI series success to add to their T20 triumph in 2021.

Chasing a revised 192 in 41 overs after the Australia innings was halted by rain, Bangladesh lost opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim for a duck in the first over.

Soumya Sarkar (42) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (41) put on 86 for the second wicket but both fell in quick succession to leave the hosts 98-3.

However, they got over the line with six overs to spare, with Tawhid Hridoy making an unbeaten 40 and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz 22 not out.

Mehidy was hit by a bouncer from Nathan Ellis and needed treatment but continued to bat despite a stretcher being called for.

Australia - who are without key players including Mitch Marsh, Travis Head, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood - had earlier posted 187-8 in 42 overs before the rain arrived.

They were reduced to 0-3 inside two overs - just the fourth instance in 4,975 men's ODIs of a side losing three wickets for no runs - before stand-in captain Josh Inglis made 34.

Marnus Labuschagne added an unbeaten 55 and shared a seventh-wicket stand of 103 with Xavier Bartlett (52), but the latter and Adam Zampa fell just before the rain to reduce the target Bangladesh required on the DLS method.

The final game in the three-match series takes place in Mirpur on Sunday from 06:00 BST.

The series could be significant for England and qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

England are eighth in the International Cricket Council one-day rankings, Bangladesh ninth and West Indies 10th.

Only the top nine teams in September qualify directly for the World Cup, and England face the tough challenge of India in their next one-day series in July.