Bangladesh created history when they won the third T20I by 11 runs, taking an unassailable lead and sealing their first-ever series win over Australia in Dhaka on Friday, 6 August.
The hosts held their nerves and bowled superbly on a sluggish wicket, restricting Australia to 117/4 in a low-scoring thriller.
The victory has helped the Tigers gain a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. This is also their first series win over the visitors across formats.
Being asked to bowl first, Australia couldn't have asked for a better start in the third T20I at Dhaka.
Josh Hazlewood got Mohammad Naim to nick one to Matthew Wade off the last ball of the second over. On the very next ball, Soumya Sarkar missed a sweep off Adam Zampa and was trapped in front of stumps.
Bangladesh's two most experienced players, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahumudullah, got together to ensure they don't lose any more wickets in the Powerplay, batting cautiously to take the score to 28/2 at the end of six overs. It looked like the two were ready to tee off after scoring three boundaries off Mitchell Marsh's over but a good running catch by Ashton Agar at long-off brought an end to Shakib's innings.
Mahmudullah was solid at one end but kept losing partners at the other. In a space of 22 balls, Bangladesh lost three more wickets, two of which were run-outs. Australia bowled smartly on a sluggish Shere-e-Bangla track to keep a leash on scoring.
The skipper completed his fifty in the 20th over but took 52 balls to get there. Nathan Ellish had a match to remember as he became the first player in T20I history to record a hattrick on debut, scalping Mahmudullah, Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan off the last three balls of the innings. Bangladesh finished their innings at 127/9.
Australia got off to a poor start, losing Matthew Wade in the second over when Nasum Ahmed had him caught at short fine leg for 1. Mitchell Marsh then joined Ben McDermott at the crease. Marsh survived a caught behind appeal on 2 when he reviewed successfully. He was later dropped on 8 in the seventh over by the keeper off Ahmed and went on to hit a four and a six in the same over.
McDermott held on to one end as Marsh began playing his shots, pouncing on the bad balls. The duo brought up their half-century stand and continued to milk runs and kept the scoreboard running. At 69/1 in 13 overs, Australia looked in a solid position however things turned around once again for the visitors.
Shakib was brought into the attack and the veteran all-rounder immediately made an impact, getting McDermott out for a 41-ball 35, breaking the 68-run stand. Shoriful Islam got Moises Henriques (2) immediately in the next over putting the pressure back on Australia.However, with Marsh at the crease things looked hopeful for the visitors.
The persistent batsman became the first Australian player to score a fifty in the series. But his charge was cut short by Shoriful, who had him caught on the first ball of the 18th over.
With Marsh gone, Alex Carey looked to maintain the scoring rate. However, despite a few stray boundaries, Bangladesh bowlers kept things tight. Mustafizur gave away only one run in the penultimate over, leaving Australia 22 to win off the final one.
Despite Carey's six off the first ball, Mahedi kept his nerve, giving only singles and ultimately restricting the visitors to 117/4.
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