Australia beat Bangladesh by four wickets in the first T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.
Chasing 132, Australia reached 133-6 in 18.2 overs after Bangladesh were dismissed for 131 in 19 overs. Australia’s spin attack played the decisive role, claiming nine of the 10 wickets to fall. The tally marked the highest number of wickets taken by Australian spinners in a single T20I innings, surpassing the previous record of seven set in Johannesburg in 2020.
Bangladesh were without Litton Das, who remained under observation with a grade one strain of the left calf muscle. Vice-captain Towhid Hridoy led the side and elected to bat first.
The hosts made a positive start and reached 52-2 in the powerplay, but their innings lost momentum as wickets fell regularly. Bangladesh lost five wickets for 29 runs during a damaging middle-order collapse.
Debutant left-arm spinner Joel Davies returned figures of 3-17, while Adam Zampa claimed 3-18 and reached the milestone of 150 T20I wickets. Matt Renshaw took 2-26 and debutant Nikhil Chaudhary claimed one wicket.
Mahedi Hasan offered late resistance with an unbeaten 29 from 22 balls, helping Bangladesh reach 131 after they had slipped to 108-9.
Australia also lost both openers early despite reaching 47-2 in the powerplay. A 40-run partnership from 28 balls between Cooper Connolly and Tim David steadied the chase and placed the visitors in control.
Connolly top-scored with 47 from 27 balls before becoming the first international wicket of debutant Abdul Gaffar Saqlain. David made 20, while Nikhil Chaudhary added 18.
Renshaw was dismissed for 18 by Saqlain late in the innings, but Australia completed the chase comfortably when Xavier Bartlett struck the winning boundary.
Adam Zampa was named Player of the Match as Australia secured a four-wicket victory and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
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