Mirpur: Left-arm opener Cooper Connolly’s superb century led Australia to a comfortable one-wicket victory in the third and final ODI against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The consolation win helped Australia avoid a whitewash as the home team won the first two matches by 86 runs and five wickets respectively.
Electing to bat first, the home team scored 274 for 5 in 50 overs thanks to half-centuries from Tauhid Hiridoi, Liton Das and Mosadek Hossain.
Hridoi top scored for Bangladesh with 83 runs off 88 balls with 8 boundaries while Das and Hossain scored 58 and 56 runs respectively.
Xavier Bartlett and Matt Renshaw took 2 wickets each and Ben Duvershuis took one wicket for Australia.
In reply, Connolly’s maiden ODI half-century saw Australia chase down a target of 275 for 9 wickets and 3 balls.
After a marathon 149 off 134 balls with 13 fours and 4 sixes kept the visitors within touching distance, the left-handed opener chased Australia down to the third ball of the final over.
For his sensational performance in the series, Connolly was named Man of the Match.
His performance was supported by fellow opener and captain Josh Inglis (21) and middle-order trio Marnes Lapuzagne (29), Ben Twarshuis and Cameron Green with 27 each.
Apart from Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan took one wicket each.
Following the three-match ODI series, both the teams will now play in a series of T20Is, all of which are scheduled to be played in Chattogram on June 17, 19 and 21 respectively.