Australia has copped an 86-run flogging at the hands of Bangladesh in the first one-day match in Dhaka on Tuesday evening (AEST).
Chasing 285 for victory, fast bowler Nahid Rana ripped through the Aussie middle order to claim figures of 4-41 from his 10 overs.
Bangladeshi Nahid Rana lead his side to a big win over Australia in the first one-dayer. AP Photo/Mosaraf Hossain
After a short delay for a rain shower, the Aussie chase got off to the worst possible start when Matt Short was bowled first ball.
It’s the third innings in a row the Aussies have lost a wicket inside the first two balls, and two have been Short.
Marnus Labuschagne was also back in the sheds early after he was trapped in front seven balls later.
Skipper Josh Inglis and opener Cooper Connolly briefly looked like they’d steadied the ship, before Inglis got stuck on the crease and nicked through to ’keeper Litton Kumer to be Rana’s first wicket.
In his celebration, Rana gave Inglis a send off, and he turned around and gave him a spray back before being ushered away by Bangladeshi fielders.
Rana, who regularly broke the 150km/h barrier, would go on to take the wickets of Alex Carey, debutant Liam Scott and Xavier Bartlett.
Connolly (35 from 50), Carey (47 from 62) and Cameron Green (52) were the only Aussie batters to offer any real resistance. Inglis (19) was the only other to reach double figures.
The Aussies had slumped to 9-191 still needing 94 from 46 balls when lightning in the area stopped play. Umpires eventually declared the match, and Bangladesh the victors by a slightly-reduced margin of 86 runs.
Earlier, the Aussies never had the hosts under any real scoreboard pressure as the hosts made 8-284 from their 50 overs. Three Tigers batters made half-centuries, including an unbeaten 86 for Mosaddek Hossain.
Nathan Ellis was head and shoulders the best of the Aussie bowlers with 3-38 from his 10 overs. Matthew Renshaw (2-35) and debutant Liam Scott (2-57) also chipped in.
Josh Inglis and Nahid Rana exchanged words after the former’s dismissal. Fox Sports
But the Aussies were poor in the field with numerous dropped catches and several misfields – a point touched on by Inglis after the match.
“A disappointing total on our part and obviously we dropped four or five catches,” the stand-in Aussie skipper said during the presentation.
“If it was somewhere around 230 to 240, I thought it was very chaseable.
“Losing two wickets really early doesn’t help and then we had guys get in throughout the innings, but no one really went on and put on a big score, and we didn’t have a really big partnership to get us close.”
The second match of the three-game series is on Thursday, and the third on Sunday. All three games are at the same venue.
Cameron Green was the best of the Aussie batters. AP Photo/Mosaraf Hossain