Shoriful Islam’s spell went in vain as Australia won a thriller to deny Bangladesh a 3-0 clean sweep of then ODI series.
Australia survive Shoriful spell to clinch consolation win
Having won only one ODI against Australia before this series, Bangladesh won the first two games to take an unassailable lead in the three-match series. For the decider, Bangladesh replaced Nahid Rana and gave Shoriful his first game of the series.
The hosts put on 274-5 after Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bat. Towhid Hridoy top-scored with an 88-ball 83, while Mosaddek Hossain smashed 56 in 51 balls. Having retired hurt with cramps, Litton Das returned to remain unbeaten on 58. For the visitors, Xavier Bartlett returned 2-47 and Matt Renshaw 2-44.
The Australian innings turned out to be a contest between Cooper Connolly, who hit 13 fours and six sixes in his 134-ball 149 when no one else took 149, and Shoriful, who took six of Bangladesh’s nine wickets. Shoriful’s wickets included Josh Inglis and Renshaw in the space of three balls, Marnus Labuschagne, Oliver Peake, Bartlett, and Ben Dwarshuis.
Australia needed five runs when Dwarshuis fell. Six balls and a run later, Connolly inside-edged Mustafizur Rahman on to the stumps. The last pair got two singles before Adam Zampa, with two runs left, biffed Taskin Ahmed to the cover-point boundary.
Best figures while defending a target in men’s ODIs
| Figures | Bowler | Team | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| 6-28 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | New Zealand | Auckland | 2015 |
| 6-48 | Shoriful Islam | Bangladesh | Australia | Mirpur | 2026 |
| 6-54 | Akila Dananjaya | Sri Lanka | India | Pallekele | 2017 |
Note: Imran Khan’s 6-14 against India at Sharjah in 1985 are the best figures by anyone in a losing cause in men’s ODIs after bowling first.
