United News of Bangladesh

Australia secured a seven-run victory over Bangladesh in the second T20I in Chattogram on Friday, defending a total of 196, to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 International series. Aaron Hardie held his nerve in a high-scoring final over, dismissing Bangladesh captain Towhid Hridoy for 35 off the final ball to restrict the hosts to 189 for 6. Bangladesh needed 23 runs from the final six balls. Despite Hardie bowling two wides and conceding a six and a four to Hridoy, the Australian seam bowler secured the win when Hridoy sliced a slower ball to Tim David at wide long-on. Bangladesh started their chase of 197 strongly, reaching 72 for 1 in the powerplay. Tanzid Hasan struck 30 off 15 balls before falling to Matt Renshaw, while Saif Hassan anchored the middle overs with 42 from 33 balls. Soumya Sarkar made a quick 15, and Parvez Hossain Emon added 36 off 22 balls. The hosts looked well-placed at 130 for 2 in the 13th over, but the departures of Emon and Saif in quick succession slowed the momentum. Nathan Ellis finished with the figure of 1 for 27 from his four overs to choke the scoring, while Hardie picked up 2 for 40, including the vital final wicket. Adam Zampa and Joel Davies claimed one wicket apiece. Earlier, Australia chose to bat first at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium and posted 196 for 5, recovering from a top-order collapse that left them at 44 for 3 during the powerplay. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed took 2 for 27, dismissing Josh Inglis for 11 and Nikhil Chaudhary for 8. Nahid Rana and Mustafizur Rahman also took early wickets, removing Cooper Connolly and captain Mitchell Marsh respectively. Renshaw and David rebuilt the innings with a 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket. David hit four sixes in his 26-ball 45 before falling to Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, who conceded 53 runs from his four overs. Renshaw remained unbeaten on 89 from 52 balls, hitting five sixes and four boundaries to push the visitors to their match-winning total.

Australia scored 196 runs for five wickets in the 2nd T20I of the three-match series against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Friday. Bangladesh now need 197 runs to win the match and stay in the series. The visitors won the toss and decided to bat first in the match. They got off to a brisk start in the match, scoring 27 runs in the first two overs. However, the Bangladeshi bowlers then tightened the grip, with Nasum Ahmed, Nahid Rana and Mustafizur Rahman taking one wicket apiece to leave Australia at 44 runs for three in six overs. Matt Renshaw and Tim David later launched a counter-attack, paring for 97 runs in 8.2 overs. Tim David became the victim of Abdul Gaffar Saqlain after scoring second team highest 45 runs from 26 balls, featuring two fours and four sixes at 141. Matt Renshwa remined not out on 89 off 52 deliveries. He hit four 4s and five 6s. For Bangladesh, Nasum Ahmed took two wickets for 27 runs in four overs, while Mustafiz, Nahid Rana and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain scalped one each. Bangladesh made two changes in the playing XI, bringing in Nahid Rana and Nasum for Shoriful Islam and Shak Mahedi Hasan. For the visitors, Xavier Bartlett was replaced by Aaron Hardie. Australia are leading the series 1-0 after winning the opening match by four wickets in the same venue on June 17.

Australia have won the toss and decided to bat first in the 2nd T20I of the three-match series agaisnt Bangladesh in Chattogram. The visitors got off to a brisk start in the match, scoring 27 runs in the first two overs. However, the Bangladeshi bowlers then tightened the grip, with Nasum Ahmed, Nahid Rana and Mustafizur Rahman taking one wicket apiece to leave Australia at 44 runs for three in six overs. Bangladesh made two changes in the playing XI, bringing in Nahid Rana and Nasum for Shoriful Islam and Shak Mahedi Hasan. For the visitors, Xavier Bartlett was replaced by Aaron Hardie. Australia are leading the series 1-0 after winning the opening match by four wickets in the same venue on June 17.

Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan struck brilliant centuries as India thrashed Afghanistan by 170 runs in the second One-Day International on Wednesday, securing an unassailable lead in the three-match series. Gill smashed 154 off 110 balls while Kishan hammered 125 from just 79 deliveries to power India to a massive 402 all out in 49.5 overs after Afghanistan elected to field first in sweltering conditions in Lucknow. The pair shared a 224-run partnership for the third wicket off only 140 balls, putting India firmly in control. It was Gill’s ninth ODI century and Kishan’s second in the format. Afghanistan, chasing a daunting target, were bowled out for 232 in 44.3 overs despite a fighting 79 from Rahmat Shah. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh claimed 3-45, while Gurnoor Brar picked up 3-60. India had already won the rain-affected opening ODI in Dharamsala by seven wickets, ensuring the series victory with one match still to play. The third and final ODI will be held in Chennai on Saturday. India made three changes to their lineup and opened with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma. Jaiswal fell cheaply for four, but Sharma scored a brisk 48 from 39 balls and added 87 runs for the second wicket with Gill. After Rashid Khan dismissed Sharma in the 14th over, Gill and Kishan took charge. Gill reached his half-century in 38 balls, while Kishan got to the milestone in 52 deliveries before accelerating sharply. Kishan completed his first ODI hundred since December 2022 off 71 balls, registering his maiden century on home soil. His innings included 14 fours and seven sixes before he was caught in the 37th over. Gill continued to dominate, bringing up his century and later crossing 150 before being dismissed in the 43rd over while struggling with cramps and dehydration. He struck 22 fours and two sixes during his innings. Left-arm spinner Nangyal Kharoti removed both centurions and also dismissed Lokesh Rahul for a first-ball duck. Although India were well placed at 360-5, they lost their final five wickets for 42 runs. Afghanistan began aggressively through Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 41 off 33 balls and shared a 52-run opening stand with Ibrahim Zadran (21). Gurbaz was dismissed by Brar before debutant Prince Yadav produced a diving catch at fine leg to help Arshdeep remove Zadran. Sediqullah Atal contributed 42 before falling lbw to Washington Sundar. Afghanistan debutant Darwish Rasooli retired hurt after aggravating a hamstring injury sustained while fielding. Rahmat Shah anchored the chase and registered his 33rd ODI half-century, but lacked sufficient support as Afghanistan fell well short of the target.

A top-order display by Cooper Connolly and a lower-order partnership between Matt Renshaw and Nikhil Chaudhary guided Australia to a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first T20I at Chattogram on Wednesday. With this victory, the visitors have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, tracking down a modest target of 132 with 10 balls to spare. Chasing 132 for win, Australia’s chase began with immediate drama. Left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam struck in his second over, bowling Josh Inglis for 5 as the batsman missed a cheeky reverse ramp scoop. However, Cooper Connolly walked in at number three and immediately shifted the pressure back onto the hosts. Connolly launched a brutal counter-attack against Shoriful, smashing two boundaries and a six in consecutive deliveries to jump-start the innings. Mustafizur Rahman provided a crucial breakthrough by removing Australian captain Mitchell Marsh for 13, who chipped a regulation catch to short third man. Despite losing his partner, Connolly continued his aggressive approach, lifting Australia to 47 for 2 by the end of the Powerplay. Connolly accumulated 47 off just 27 deliveries, featuring four boundaries and three sixes, before holing out to long-on off debutant Abdul Gaffar Saqlain. Tim David sustained the momentum by clobbering two massive sixes, including a 98-metre strike off Mahedi Hasan. Mahedi, however, exacted immediate revenge on the very next ball when David miscued a big shot to long-on, departing for 20. At 89 for 4, the match hung briefly in the balance. Matt Renshaw and Nikhil Chaudhary combined for a 24-run partnership to pull Australia within touching distance of the target. Bangladesh managed to trigger a late panic when leg-spinner Rishad Hossain dismissed Chaudhary for 18 via a successful glove-nick review. Saqlain then claimed his second wicket by removing Renshaw for 18 in the 19th over. However, Xavier Bartlett ended any lingering hopes for the home crowd by driving Saqlain through the covers for a boundary to wrap up the chase in 18.2 overs. Saqlain finished with figures of 2 for 32 on his international debut. Earlier in the afternoon, Bangladesh elected to bat first but struggled to find momentum on a changing Chattogram deck. Opening batsmen Saif Hassan (20) and Tanzid Hasan (10) provided a brisk 26-run opening stand inside three overs before Spencer Johnson dismissed Tanzid. Spinners Adam Zampa and debutant Joel Davies then tore through the batting order, taking three wickets apiece. Zampa finished with outstanding figures of 3 for 18, picking up his 150th T20I wicket in the process, while Davies claimed an impressive 3 for 17. A late cameo from Mahedi Hasan, who hit an unbeaten 29 off 22 balls, dragged Bangladesh past the 130-mark before the team was bowled out in 19 overs.  

A disciplined Australian bowling performance, led by Adam Zampa and debutant Joel Davies, bundled Bangladesh out for a modest 131 in 19 overs in the first T20I at Chattogram on Wednesday. Opting to bat first, Bangladesh made a brisk start as Saif Hassan (20) and Tanzid Hasan put on 18 runs in the first two overs. However, the introduction of spin quickly derailed the hosts' momentum after Spencer Johnson provided the initial breakthrough by removing Tanzid for 10. Matt Renshaw then dismissed Saif to leave the hosts at 45 for 2. Later, he also got the wicket of Shamim Hossain. Zampa then ripped through the middle order, taking 3 for 18 from his four overs. He trapped stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy for 8 with a sharp googly and later removed a struggling Soumya Sarkar for 17. Zampa completed his spell by claiming his 150th T20I wicket when Shoriful Islam holed out to long-off. Left-arm orthodox debutant Joel Davies enjoyed a dream introduction to international cricket, finishing with match-turning figures of 3 for 17. Davies struck twice in quick succession to remove wicketkeeper Parvez Hossain Emon (10) and debutant Abdul Gaffar Saqlain (10). Fellow debutant Nikhil Chaudhary also joined the party, picking up the wicket of Rishad Hossain. With Bangladesh reeling at 108 for 9, Mahedi Hasan provided a crucial late flourish, scoring a quickfire 29 off 22 balls. Mahedi took toll of Davies in the 19th over, striking three consecutive boundaries via a reverse sweep, an inside-out cover drive, and a paddle sweep.Davies had the last laugh, trapping Mustafizur Rahman lbw for 7 on review to end the innings with an over to spare. Australia will require 132 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the T20I series opener at Chattogram on Wednesday. The hosts face a reshuffled leadership as captain Litton Das misses out after suffering a calf muscle tear during the final ODI in Dhaka. In his absence, middle-order batter Towhid Hridoy takes over as stand-in captain, while Parvez Hossain Emon assumes the wicketkeeping duties. Bangladesh handed a T20I debut to Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, who joins a red-hot pace unit featuring Shoriful Islam and Mustafizur Rahman. This match also marks the return of all-rounder Soumya Sarkar, playing his first T20I since December 2024. For Australia, the team management handed international debuts to both Joel Davies and Nikhil Chaudhary under the leadership of captain Mitchell Marsh. Bangladesh XI: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon (wk), Towhid Hridoy (capt), Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman. Australia XI: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Josh Inglis (wk), Cooper Connolly, Matt Renshaw, Tim David, Nikhil Chaudhary, Joel Davies, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.

Bangladesh fans have spent more than two decades waiting for isolated ODI victories against Australia. To secure two wins in a single week and lock down a historic series victory felt entirely surreal. Yet, on Sunday at Mirpur, the hosts stood on the precipice of an even greater feat: a clean sweep. Australia, however, managed to claw their way out of trouble, escaping with a nerve-shredding one-wicket victory with only three balls left. Chasing a target of 275, Australia’s chase concluded in high drama. With 35 runs needed off the final 42 deliveries, Cooper Connolly spearheaded the charge alongside young Oliver Peake. Even when Shoriful Islam returned to trigger a late collapse, Australia’s lower order kept their composure. In the final over, tasked with defending just three runs, Taskin Ahmed bowled a wide fuller delivery outside off stump. Adam Zampa met it cleanly, driving it through the covers for a boundary to seal a consolation win for the visitors. The grandstand finish was set up by a bowling masterclass from left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam, who finished with magnificent figures of 6 for 48. Stepping into the side for the rested Nahid Rana, Shoriful tore the heart out of the Australian order. He struck twice in his opening over, removing Josh Inglis and Matt Renshaw off consecutive deliveries. He later returned to dismiss a well-set Marnus Labuschagne (29), before collecting three more lower-order wickets—including a double-strike in the 46th over to remove Peake and Xavier Bartlett—to claim a memorable six-wicket haul. Despite Shoriful's heroics, a single over from Taskin Ahmed shifted the momentum back to Australia. In the 45th over, with the visitors needing 30 runs off 36 balls, Connolly launched an extraordinary assault against Taskin, hitting three consecutive sixes over midwicket, fine leg, and the sight screen. The 21-run over broke the pressure and ultimately cost Bangladesh the match. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat, posting a competitive 274 for 5. The innings was built on excellent half-centuries from Towhid Hridoy (83 off 88 balls) and Mosaddek Hossain (56* off 51 balls), who put together a crucial middle-order partnership. Litton Das also fought through calf cramps to contribute a gritty 58 before retiring hurt. For Australia, Matt Renshaw was the pick of the regular bowlers with 2 for 7, while Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis chipped in with a wicket each to keep the target within reach. Australia’s response got off to a flyer despite a revamped opening pair. Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis added 30 runs inside three overs before Shoriful's spectacular introduction reduced them to 38 for 2. Taskin then removed Alex Carey for 8, courtesy of a brilliant diving catch by Soumya Sarkar, leaving Australia at 71 for 3. Connolly anchored the remainder of the chase beautifully, registering a magnificent maiden ODI century. He anchored a 53-run stand with Labuschagne and later found an able ally in Peake (27). Connolly was eventually dragged on by a Mustafizur Rahman cutter for a magnificent 149 off 134 balls, featuring 13 boundaries and 6 sixes. His dismissal left Australia’s tail to navigate a tense final two overs, which Zampa safely negotiated to deny Bangladesh a 3-0 whitewash.    

Stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first as Bangladesh sought a clean sweep in the third and final One-Day International against Australia at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. Bangladesh were forced to make changes after regular captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was ruled out following a head injury sustained from a Nathan Ellis bouncer during the second ODI. Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan replaced fast bowler Nahid Rana, who was rested for the match. Speaking at the toss, Shanto said Mehidy was recovering well but remained under medical observation. Bangladesh have already secured their first-ever ODI series victory over Australia, winning the opening match by 86 runs and the second by five wickets, with both results determined under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method due to weather interruptions. Australia, meanwhile, made two changes as they looked to avoid a series whitewash. Fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis and all-rounder Oliver Peake were included in the side, replacing opener Matthew Short and pacer Nathan Ellis. A victory would complete a landmark 3-0 series sweep for Bangladesh against the five-time world champions. Line Ups: Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam. Australia: Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (captain), Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Oliver Peake, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith.

Skipper Shubman Gill scored 84 not out off 66 balls for India to beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in a rain-affected one-day international on Saturday. Rain delayed the toss for more than four hours and reduced the match to 25 overs per side. India won with 13 balls to spare at 193-5 in reply to Afghanistan's 194 all out. Gill hit 11 fours and two sixes with help from Lokesh Rahul, 39 not out off 19 balls. Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 102 off 51 balls went in vain, though he helped Afghanistan recover from 54-7. India debutants did well; pacer Gurnoor Brar took 3-27 and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey 3-47. India leads the first bilateral ODI cricket series between the teams 1-0. Lucknow hosts the second ODI on Wednesday and Chennai hosts the third and last match on June 20. Put into bat, Afghanistan was cut down to 26-3 in 4.3 overs when Gurbaz counterattacked. He hit four sixes and four boundaries en route to 50 off only 25 balls. The next 50 came off 23 balls with another four sixes and four fours — the ninth century for Gurbaz and the first for an Afghanistan batter against India. It was also the second quickest ODI century against India after Shahid Afridi took 45 balls in 2005 for Pakistan. Gurbaz was eventually bowled in the 16th over — off Nitish Reddy — after putting on 116 off 66 balls with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (27). Afghanistan slipped again. Dubey dismissed Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai (26). The last five batters didn’t reach double digits, out for 22 runs in 26 balls. In reply, Rohit Sharma was run out on 16. Gill, though, carried his form over from the Indian Premier League in scoring his 18th ODI half-century off 37 balls. Ishan Kishan added 34 runs and Shreyas Iyer 12, but Gill and Rahul hung tough. They put on 53 unbeaten together off 32 balls and Rahul cleaned up with three sixes and four boundaries in only 19 balls.