Australia have crashed to a fifth straight T20I series loss despite a hat trick on debut from paceman Nathan Ellis and a Mitchell Marsh half-century, as Bangladesh celebrated a special landmark in Dhaka.
Chasing Bangladesh’s 9-127, Australia finished at 4-117 on Friday, giving the hosts a ten-run win and an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
The victory clinched their first series triumph against Australia in any format. Australia were well placed at 1-71 in the 13th over, but wickets in hand counted for little down the stretch as their batsmen again struggled.
Following up scores of 45 in each of the first two matches, Marsh scored 51 off 47 balls and combined with Ben McDermott (35 off 41) for a second-wicket stand of 63, Australia’s highest partnership of the series.
But the runs dried up and Australia went 29 balls without a boundary. They needed 34 off the last three overs but Marsh was caught at long off from the first ball of the 18th over.
They took 11 off the over, but could only take a single off the 19th bowled by Mustafizur Rahman (0-9 off four), who again bamboozled Australia’s batsmen with his variety and control.
With 22 needed off the last over, Alex Carey (20 not out off 15) hit the first ball for six but off spinner Mahedi Hasan held his nerve.
(Christopher Lee-IDI/IDI via Getty Images)
“We just didn’t take the opportunities with the bat which was disappointing,” Australian captain Matthew Wade said, with his side having failed to score more than 121 in any match in the series.
Once again, the bowlers did well and it was Ellis who grabbed the headlines as the first ever to take a hat trick on a T20I debut, though he had to wait for his success.
After going for 29 off his first three wicketless overs, the Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes paceman (3-34 off four overs) struck with the last three balls of the innings.
He bowled Bangladesh captain and top scorer Mohammad Mahmudullah (52 off 53 balls) and had Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan caught on the leg side by Marsh and Ashton Agar respectively.
“It’s pretty amazing and something I’ll cherish forever,” Ellis said.
Asked what went through his mind before the hat trick delivery, Ellis joked, “Don’t get hit for six!
“For me it was pretty simple: just bowl to my field and hopefully it goes my way, which thankfully it did.”
Ellis was originally named as a travelling reserve for the tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh, with fellow quicks Pat Cummins, Jhye and Kane Richardson and Daniel Sams unavailable.
He was promoted to the main squad earlier in the week after Riley Meredith suffered a side strain.
“I’m under no illusions to the fact that it’s taken a global pandemic and some boys who have spent a lot of time in bubbles and quarantine to need a break, for me to get here,” Ellis said.
The three other bowlers to bowl their full complement of overs – paceman Josh Hazlewood (2-16) and spinners Adam Zampa (2-24) and Agar (0-23) – all kept the batsmen on a tight rein.
They were backed up by excellent fielding, with some good catches taken and a couple of direct-hit run outs from Carey and Moises Henriques.
Earlier, Australia struck with successive deliveries to have the home team reeling at 2-3 after just 11 balls. A partnership of 44 in six overs between Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan (26 off 17) helped Bangladesh recover.
The series continues on Saturday with Wade taking some inspiration from the big day for Ellis.
“It’s a funny game, cricket,” said the captain.
“He (Ellis) could have gone none for 34, but last three balls he’s gone 3-34. It can turn around really quickly – and that’s how we’ll look at the rest of the series.”
Rusty Brooks
Roar Rookie
Not sure how discrimination comes into it, but agree that Wade shouldn’t be picked in the Australian team.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Expect two of BDs first choice XI to be back for that series too in Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das.
maverick
Roar Rookie
Finally someone I agree re Wade. The guy is constantly mediocre, specially in Asia, he has never batted with any rhythm at all. Henriques is another mediocre spud who puts me to sleep whenever he plays. Mcdermott, Carey failing consistently in t20 cricket yet getting picked. Guys like Handscomb, Head, Khawaja constantly overlooked despite boasting superior records.
Reddy
Roar Rookie
Worrying for New Zealand who play Bangladesh next in 5 t20 series at Dhaka. Hopefully the New Zealand coaches are watching this series between Australia and Bangladesh.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Don't worry La grandeur, you're forgiven. It's easily forgettable.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Do you mean to say that a day will go by when the Australian Corporate Cricket Team and I use the name advisedly, isn't playing a game of this nonsense. They may as well just repeat one of the old games. They all look the same and besides, nobody is watching in Australia anyway.
Anth
Roar Rookie
Geez! I am so glad our national board has invested so heavily in the BBL. For the last decade it has been positioned front and centre on Australia's cricket landscape. Imagine how bad the national T20 side would be, without it!! Look I am no huge fan of the T20 format, but if it is going to be rammed down our throats year after year, is it too much to suggest that Australia may actually be half good at it? Seriously; four down for 117, probably an iffy score half an hour after lunch on the first day of a Test. WTF, were we trying to grind out an honourable draw? in pursuit of less than 130. I am at a loss to understand CA's end game. Last Summer's home Test series against India was horrendous, then it is followed up with the most recent abominations, the T20 tours of the Caribbean and Bangladesh. It confuses me, Australia rightly or wrongly persists with a coach who talks a big game strategically and philosophically with very mixed results; it then awards contracts to players some of whom only represent the national side when they see fit. Fantastic the board is raking in the dollars, meanwhile, from my perspective cricket in Australia is rapidly devolving from the game I grew up loving.
sunil banerjee
Roar Rookie
I apologize straight up for my comments might offend. Australian cricket has a problem. The problem is discrimination. Every series I notice that selectors are happy to pick players who have consistently not performed, they don't perform and keep getting picked. Mathew Wade is the person that I have in mind when I say this, have a look at his international record and you will know he is not a batsman fit for an international side. I do watch a fair bit of cricket and have seen Wade bat many times and not once have I been impressed. The only thing that that has stuck me about him is his trash talking/sledging. He is presently the captain of Aussie touring party while better batsmen like Travis Head, Shaun Marsh and Usman Khwaja are not even considered for the squad. Its like they are not cool enough to merit section or something. This is not a case with Wade and the other players I mention either. Australia like to carry a fair few players like Wade who don't merit selection while others with more talent and potential are snubbed.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
That's good news for Aus, I think.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
Wow :shocked: Amidst the drama in Nottingham i completely forgot about this series. How did it happen so fast? Anyway Congratulation to Bangladesh. This is a massive moment for their sports. I thought Australia was going to win it quite easily. To win a series against a sporting superpower in one of their major sports is significant. On a side note, this now makes me feel a lot better about our loss in Sri Lanka :silly:
DingoGray
Roar Guru
How the hell do you lose chasing 125, only losing 4 wickets?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Of all Australia’s 11 opponents in its IT20 history, it’s slowest scoring rate is against Bangladesh at 7.13 RPO. Against New Zealand is the highest at 9.01 RPO.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
That’s good news isn’t it? :laughing:
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Takes a real mix of FC and T20 techniques to bat on these Dhaka wickets and against these BD bowlers who know how to work with the surface and in these conditions. Just see ball hit ball won’t cut it.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
its raining a lot. todays 4th T20 is in serious doubts.
Paul
Roar Guru
good morning John. That's a fair comment given the state of the roads the teams get to play on in the BBL, which makes them ill prepared to bat when surfaces are doing a bit. The problem in the BBL is, the broadcaster wants games to last 40 overs, for guys to hit a gazillion 6's, so fans will tune in for more. That means pitches which offer something to bowlers won't happen any time soon
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I acknowledge that the wicket & conditions over there are challenging for the batsmen (NOT BATTERS!) however in our domestic BBL competition, teams wouldn’t win too many games defending scores of 130.