DHAKA June 17 (V7N)— Bangladesh were bowled out for 131 in 19 overs in the first T20 International against Australia on Tuesday, as the visitors’ spinners ran riot at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram. The hosts produced a fragile batting display after opting to bat first, with spin accounting for nine of the ten wickets.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa and left-arm spinner Joel Davis led the charge, taking 3 for 18 and 3 for 17 respectively. Part-time off-spinner Matt Renshaw chipped in with 2 wickets, while Nikhil Chaudhary — the first Indian-born cricketer to debut for Australia in 60 years — picked up one with his leg-spin. Pacer Spencer Johnson claimed the remaining wicket.
Bangladesh’s batters struggled against Australia’s disciplined attack after stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy won the toss and chose to bat. Hridoy was leading the side in place of Liton Das, who was ruled out of the match with an injury picked up during the third ODI against the same opponents.
No batter could build a substantial innings. No. 9 Mahedi Hasan top-scored with 29, the highest for Bangladesh. Opener Tanzid Hasan fell for 10 to Spencer Johnson in the third over before the spinners took over. Saif Hasan looked settled but was dismissed for 20 attempting an aggressive slog-sweep off Renshaw.
Hridoy’s first outing as captain proved forgettable as he was out for 8, leaving Bangladesh at 57-3. Zampa and Davis then triggered a dramatic collapse, with the hosts losing five wickets for just 40 runs. Mahedi’s late cameo helped push the total past 130, which had looked doubtful at one stage.
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