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Emerging star Cooper Connolly had to overcome cramps which sent his body into shock as he peeled off a majestic maiden international century to pilot Australia to a gripping one-wicket win over Bangladesh in the third and final ODI.<\/p>\n
Connolly smashed 149 off 133 deliveries at a hot, humid Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday, as the tourists edged past Bangladesh\u2019s 5-274 with three deliveries to spare, thus avoiding a 3-0 series whitewash.<\/p>\n
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Cooper Connolly raised his maiden century in international cricket.AP Photo\/Mosaraf Hossain<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old Western Australian, whose previous highest score was 61 not out in ODIs and 64 in all List-A games, hit 13 fours and six sixes. The next highest Australian score was Marnus Labuschagne\u2019s 29.<\/p>\n
\u201c[It was] tough towards the end,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI felt like my body was all in shock and not wanting to move.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it was nice to play a role in a win for Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe enjoyment of playing for Australia and batting out in the middle is always something that\u2019s exciting and to spend a bit of time out there was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
After cruising at 5-266, the Aussies suffered a 4-5 collapse to crash to 9-271, before Adam Zampa raised victory when he drove Taskin Ahmed through the covers for four.<\/p>\n
Recalled left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam (6-48) was the chief destroyer for the Tigers and could have been the match-winner \u2013 with a seven-wicket haul to his name \u2013 had Tanzid Hasan not grassed Zampa at wide slip.<\/p>\n
Connolly watched the carnage from the other end, before departing in the 49th over \u2013 the ninth wicket to fall, with four runs required \u2013 playing on to Mustafizur Rahman.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was obviously a little disappointed in myself because I\u2019d done all the hard work to get to that position,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would have been nice to carry your bat through the whole innings.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s always faith in whoever\u2019s out there \u2013 whether it\u2019s No.10 and 11 \u2013 I\u2019m always willing to back them in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe emotions were (I was) quite upset and disappointed in myself, but it was nice to get over the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connolly and stand-in captain Josh Inglis set the tempo for the Aussies\u2019 chase by attacking Bangladesh\u2019s new-ball bowlers.<\/p>\n
![\"Towhid](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/de1e4c436cccc50f7ad0b07f3c4a92dfd3c211c0.jpeg\")
Towhid Hridoy sweeps on his way to 83 for Bangladesh as Australian captain Josh Inglis tries to gather the ball.AP Photo\/Mosaraf Hossain<\/p>\n
That swashbuckling approach has served Connolly well so far across all formats in his still young career.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking into it, ODI cricket is quite similar to how I play my red-ball cricket,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to be aggressive and I like to score.<\/p>\n
Related Article \u201cThat\u2019s the whole point of batting in the powerplay \u2013 you want to be aggressive and put guys under pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n The T20 series between Bangladesh and Australia starts on Wednesday.<\/p>\n AAP<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781479871_944_31ceeeb5fae24177bb1f18855b9f5d13f6291864.jpeg\")
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