Dhaka: Bangladesh batsmen showed great gusto to end the three-match Zoom Ultra ODI series on a high note at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. On the day of Jamie Siddons’s last match as Bangladeshi coach, the batsmen responded with ultra aggressiveness to match up with Australian aggression before losing the match by 66 runs as they put up a total of 295 for six in response of Australia’s imposing 361 for eight.
It was Bangladesh’s highest run against Australia and it could make them happy indeed after having a meek surrender in the first two matches.
Sweeping the series by a clean margin, Michael Clarke also started his captaincy on a positive note. Shane Watson, the vice-captain of the side, was adjudged man of the series.
Mike Hussey was at his pinnacle, scoring 108 runs off 91 balls that featured nine fours and two sixes. Watson’s brutal 72 off 40 in a reminiscent of the second ODI was the catalyst to set the ball rolling in Australia’s favour. Former and incumbent skipper duo Ponting and Clarke’s 47 runs each and Johnson’s 24 ball-41 runs cameo helped to propel Australia into the stratosphere.
However, opener Imrul Kayes was the key figure in chasing the daunting total with an impressive 95 ball-93 runs knock which was followed by Tamim plundering the visitors to all corners of the stadium.
Tamim set of on a fiery start when smashed Mitchell Johnson for 10 runs of his first over. Kayes matched with his partner’s aggression, clubbing the new ball bowler John Hasting, who ha taken Brett Lee’s place. However, when Tamim was unable to resist a Johnson yorker, leaving the ground with a 17 ball-32 runs knock, Kayes with the alliance of Shahriar Nafees frustrated Australia with their gritty resistance.
While Kayes found the gaps with ease, Nafees was bit sluggish but yet he kept his wicket intact against Australian bowling which lacked penetration.
In the process the duo frustrated the Australians, leaving skipper Michael Clarke scratching his head till 31 overs. In the meantime, they shared 136 runs which ended as Kayes edged the debutant bowler Pattinson to a catch behind the wicket. During his 93 runs knock, he clobbered 10 fours and two sixes. Losing his partner, Nafees lost the momentum as he top-edged Johnson to sacrifice his wicket at 60.
Later Bangladesh saw a flurry of wickets tumbling with Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan departing in a quick succession before Mahmuduallha Ryad and Alok Kapali came up with further gritty resistance. Bangladesh, however, played for the pride only as the match was virtually out of control. Kapali, who played his first game after two and half years could make only 13. But Ryad played some magnificent shots all around the stadium to earn his fifth half-century. He remained unbeaten on 68 off 61 balls that featured five fours and two sixes. It was his highest ODI knock. Johnson took three wickets while Watson took two.
Courtesy of The Independent
