PM Hails Tigers’ Historic ODI Series Victory Over Australia

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman warmly congratulated the Bangladesh National Cricket Team on achieving a historic milestone by securing their first-ever One Day International (ODI) series victory against powerhouse Australia. 

In a message of congratulations on Thursday, the Premier expressed high hopes that this monumental success would inspire the country's youth to engage more deeply in sports, emphasizing that maintaining team unity, discipline, and self-confidence will pave the way for even greater triumphs on the global stage.

The historic triumph was sealed at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, where the roaring Tigers crushed Australia by five wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the second ODI. 

This victory gives Bangladesh an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, following their dominant 86-run win in the opening match at the same venue. 

The series victory marks a phenomenal run of four consecutive ODI series wins for Bangladesh, keeping them firmly on track for direct qualification to the 2027 World Cup.

After electing to bat first, Australia suffered a catastrophic start, slumping to a shocking 0-3 within the first two overs—the worst opening in their illustrious ODI history. 

Bangladesh's pace duo inflicted maximum early damage; Taskin Ahmed bowled Matthew Short for his third consecutive duck, while Mustafizur Rahman ripped through the top order by removing Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw in his opening over. 

Mustafizur struck again to dismiss Alex Carey, and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam claimed two quick wickets, including captain Josh Inglis (34), leaving the visitors reeling at 81-6.

Australia managed to avoid complete embarrassment thanks to a spirited 103-run counterattack for the seventh wicket between Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett. 

Bartlett hammered a maiden half-century (52 off 48 balls), while Labuschagne anchored the side with an unbeaten 54. 

However, Taskin Ahmed returned for a decisive second spell, removing Bartlett and Adam Zampa in successive deliveries before rain halted the Australian innings at 187-8 after 42 overs. 

Taskin and Mustafizur finished as the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each.

Set a revised DLS target of 192 in 41 overs, Bangladesh’s chase suffered an early hiccup when Tanzid Hasan Tamim fell for a duck to Bartlett. 

However, Najmul Hossain Shanto and the recalled Soumya Sarkar stabilized the innings with a fluent 86-run partnership, with both batters contributing crucial scores of 42. 

Though Australia sensed a late opening by reducing the hosts to 144-5—dismissing Liton Das (21) and first-match hero Mosaddek Hossain Saikat (15)—Towhid Hridoy anchored the backend of the chase with a composed, unbeaten 40. 

Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz then fittingly sealed the historic series victory with a spectacular six, leaving 36 balls unused, as the home crowd erupted in celebration. 

Bangladesh will now look to complete a historic series whitewash when the two sides face off in the final ODI on Sunday.