In the humid evening of Mirpur, Bangladesh achieved something that had eluded them for nearly two decades: a series victory over Australia in one-day cricket. With a five-wicket win in the second match, the hosts claimed their first-ever ODI series against the six-time World Cup winners, erasing the memory of three successive defeats to the same opponent.
The milestone carries weight beyond cricket. Bangladesh had never beaten Australia in a bilateral series format, their only previous win coming in 2005 during a tri-series that also included England. Now, after winning the opener—their first 50-over victory over Australia in 21 years—they have seized control of a three-match contest in their home ground, leading 2-0 with one match remaining.
Chasing a revised target of 192 in 41 overs under the DLS method after rain interrupted Australia's innings, Bangladesh weathered an opening storm. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim fell for a duck in the first over, but Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto steadied the ship with an 86-run partnership for the second wicket. When both fell in quick succession, leaving their side at 98-3, the outcome remained uncertain. Yet Tawhid Hridoy's unbeaten 40 and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz's composed 22 not out guided them home with six overs to spare.
The Australian innings had unfolded against its own chaos. The visiting team, missing key players including Mitch Marsh, Travis Head, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood, lost three wickets for no runs inside the first two overs—just the fourth instance in 4,975 men's ODIs of such a devastating start. Stand-in captain Josh Inglis contributed 34, while Marnus Labuschagne's unbeaten 55 provided some stability. A crucial seventh-wicket partnership between Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett, worth 103 runs, gave Australia respectability, though Bartlett and Adam Zampa fell just before the rain arrived, reducing the target Bangladesh needed to chase.
One moment captured the grit required: Mehidy Hasan Miraz was struck by a bouncer from Nathan Ellis that forced a stretcher onto the ground, yet the captain chose to continue batting, his composure under pressure a symbol of Bangladesh's newfound resilience against top-tier opponents.
For Bangladesh, this victory extends beyond the current series. It adds to their T20 triumph over Australia in 2021 and strengthens their standing in world cricket at a critical juncture. England currently sits eighth in the International Cricket Council's one-day rankings, Bangladesh ninth, and West Indies tenth. Only the top nine teams as of September qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup, making every series consequential. Bangladesh's momentum here could prove decisive in the qualifying race, particularly as England prepares to face India in July.
The final match takes place in Mirpur on Sunday, where Bangladesh can seal only their second series victory against Australia in any format. A win would reshape their standing in international cricket and provide proof that the gap between established powerhouses and emerging nations continues to narrow.