(ESPNCRICINFO) – Nahid Rana and Mosaddek Hossain combined brilliantly to secure Bangladesh a huge win against Australia in the first ODI in Dhaka. The 86-run victory, which eventually came via DLS due to a thunderstorm, was only the second time that Bangladesh have defeated Australia in this format; their previous win was in June 2005, known as the Cardiff Miracle. However, this win 21 years later was far from an upset as Bangladesh continued their impressive home form by completely dominating proceedings.
Mosaddek celebrated his return to the team after four years with an all-round showing that included an unbeaten career-best 86 and two wickets. Rana, who had taken three five-wicket hauls in the last three months, claimed 4 for 41 in a fiery performance where he was clocked at over 150kph.
Australia had a forgettable day at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. They dropped four catches and looked unlike themselves in the field. Then they couldn’t withstand Rana’s speed on a pitch that produced mostly even bounce and a bit of pace. Cameron Green ended unbeaten with 52 but the game had long since gone.
Taskin Ahmed’s peach of a delivery that moved slightly off the wicket castled Matt Short off the first ball of the Australia chase. Short became only the fifth opener to get out first ball in an ODI innings against Bangladesh, and the first in 17 years. It meant Australia had registered three consecutive scoreless opening stands.
Mustafizur Rahman trapped the struggling Marnus Labuschagne lbw with the second ball of the next over. Left-armer Mustafizur pitched it up to Labuschagne who played around the delivery. There was initial doubt about the review before captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz gave the signal and it was the right call.
Rana then bowled a perfect length to Australia captain Josh Inglis who edged to wicketkeeper Litton Das. Rana, who usually doesn’t react to his wickets too loudly, really went into a celebratory run, appearing to say something Inglis. He reacted to Rana’s outburst, before Mehidy escorted away his Australian counterpart. In the rest of the over, Rana bowled deliveries in excess of 146kph.
Mosaddek’s fine day continued when he removed Cooper Connolly in the 20th over with a delivery from around the wicket which slid into leg stump. Connolly, opening for just the second time in his ODI career, made 35 off 50 balls. Alex Carey was the next to go, nicking Rana to the keeper for 47 when he looked beaten for pace. In the 29th over, Rana bowled one delivery that reached 150kph.
Rana also removed debutant Liam Scott and Xavier Bartlett in the space of two overs. Scott fended a rising delivery to Tawhid Hridoy, who took a diving catch in front of him at gully, and Bartlett avoided getting hit when he gave a simple catch to Tanzid at square-leg off a 148kph delivery.
Meanwhile, Mosaddek had added his second when he trapped Matt Renshaw lbw for two with one which turned sharply to hit the back leg. Mosaddek capped off his brilliant day with a terrific catch running back from mid-off when Nathan Ellis top-edged Mustafizur.
After Bangladesh were sent in to bat, Mosaddek led the way in the latter part of the innings as he struck seven fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 86 off 70 balls. Mosaddek added 75 for the fifth wicket with Hridoy who contributed a sedate 31. The partnership revived the Bangladesh innings after they had slipped to 140 for 4.