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Australia win third women’s T20 against Bangladesh by 77 runs – as it happened
Cricket Sport

Australia win third women’s T20 against Bangladesh by 77 runs – as it happened

Catch up on how Australia cruised to victory to make it three-from-three in the Women’s T20I series against Bangladesh:

A grinning Alyssa Healy is full of praise for her side and the hosts, revealing that Australia got what they came for – six resounding white-ball victories and a wealth of experience that will hold them in good stead for more important matches to come.

“It has been a really worthwhile tour for us,” Healy said. “Our group has learned a lot from it, which is what’s most important.”

“We’re doing a lot of things right and I think we’re adapting really well, which is what we speak about. It has been hugely worthwhile for us.”

Sophie Molineux is the player of the series with six wickets in the three T20s.

“It has been good fun, I’m enjoying being back among the squad and playing good cricket again,” Molineux said while collecting her award.

“[The conditions] are different to what we are used to… hopefully we can put the experience in our pockets and bring it out later in the year.”

The spinner calls out Tahlia McGrath for her support during Molineux’s lengthy stint on the sidelines.

Tayla Vlaeminck is named player of the match for claiming 3-12 in her second game since returning to the all-conquering Australia outfit.

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana skips the post-match presentation as she isn’t feeling well – making her last-ditch knock all the more impressive – as vice-captain Nahida Akter steps onto the stage in her place.

Nahida goes on to explain that Nigar brought an illness into the match, which is why she dropped down to No 7 in the Bangladesh batting order – hats off to Joty!

That was far from Australia’s most complete performance of their tour of Bangladesh. But it didn’t need to be to complete a clean sweep across the three-match T20I series, after the visitors cruised to the same result in the ODI series.

While only Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath truly got going among the Australia batters, their bowlers all stepped up as the competition to be part of the squad at the T20 World Cup later this year continues to heat up.

Australia used seven bowlers and they all found at least one scalp, but the pick of them was Tayla Vlaeminck with 3-12 from four overs.

Bangladesh were always unlikely to seriously threaten Australia’s target of 156, and they had one eye on the future when giving opportunities to teenage talents Dilara Akter, Shorna Akter and Rabeya Khan.

Nigar Sultana steered the hosts to a respectable score but could not deny the dominant Australia yet another white-ball victory.

The Bangladesh captain’s brave knock comes to an end in a frustrating manner. A loose delivery from Georgia Wareham reaches Nigar on the full, but it seems to catch the right-hander by surprise as a big swipe misses the ball and it cannons into the stumps.

18th over: Bangladesh 78-9 (Nigar 32, Fariha 2) Fariha finds an early single to hand the strike back to her captain Nigar who has her eye in now. Nigar dispatches a wide ball from Sutherland through a gap square of the wicket and all the way to the rope, then picks up a crucial late single.

17th over: Bangladesh 71-9 (Nigar 27, Fariha 1) This is a stirring knock from Nigar but she will be disappointed it has come too late to inspire the rest of the lineup. The Bangladesh captain finds two runs from consecutive deliveries, then looks for a single from the last ball but gets too much on it and looks disappointed to pick up a boundary.

16th over: Bangladesh 63-9 (Nigar 19, Fariha 1) Fariha stares down the test from Sutherland, blocking out three deliveries then finding a single. Nigar slogs a boundary then perhaps more importantly sneaks a single off the last delivery.

15th over: Bangladesh 57-9 (Nigar 14, Fariha 0) Nigar Sultana looks happy to be playing a lone hand now, sending a sweetly-timed drive to the boundary and facing out the over from Sophie Molineux. But Nigar can’t find a single late in the over and leaves Fariha Trisna on strike.

14th over: Bangladesh 53-9 (Nigar 10) Nigar Sultana finds a boundary and faces the bulk of the over from Sutherland until allowing Marufa Akter to take the final two deliveries. Sutherland grasps the opportunity to claim her first wicket of the match.

Annabel Sutherland makes sure she doesn’t miss out as all the Australian bowlers now have at least one scalp. A slower ball out the back of the hand has Marufa Akter through her shot early as the ball flies to Tayla Vlaeminck.

13th over: Bangladesh 48-8 (Nigar 5, Marufa 0) Sophie Molineux joins the wicket-takers for Australia as Bangladesh continue to collapse.

Nahida Akter somehow keeps out a drifting delivery from Sophie Molineux but is beaten by the flight on the next ball to be trapped in front.

12th over: Bangladesh 47-7 (Nigar 4, Nahida 1) Nigar Sultana and Nahida Akter find the right balance between defence and attack, surviving a fine over from Annabel Sutherland while picking up three singles.

11th over: Bangladesh 44-7 (Nigar 2) Tayla Vlaeminck takes two wickets to end a fiery spell with 3-12 as Australia find even more weapons for their attack ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year.

Shorifa Khatun has little answer to Vlaeminck’s express pace and is trapped in front for a duck.

Fahima Khatun could do little but pick out Georgia Wareham as Tayla Vlaeminck continues to trouble the Bangladesh batters with her pace.

10th over: Bangladesh 39-5 (Fahima 11, Nigar 2) Bangladesh get through to drinks without further loss as Sophie Molineux sends down a tidy over that only allows a pair of singles.

9th over: Bangladesh 37-5 (Fahima 10, Nigar 1) Nigar Sultana has dropped down the order as Bangladesh look to give fresh opportunities to their emerging batters. But the skipper is called to the crease more than an over before drinks when Rabeya Khan is the fifth wicket to fall.

Rabeya Khan looks unsure how to deal with Georgia Wareham’s variety and is cleaned bowled by a straighter delivery. Wareham is the second Australia spinner to pick up a wicket with their first over.

8th over: Bangladesh 36-4 (Fahima 10, Rabeya 1) Spin has done the trick for Australia with the dismissal of Dilara Akter, but Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan are still looking to turn over the strike with quick singles.

Ash Gardner brings spin into the attack and gets the immediate breakthrough. Dilara seemed to be expecting more turn as she leaned back to cut but the ball goes straight and takes a nick on the way through to the keeper. The opener’s patient knock comes to an end on 12 from 18 balls.

7th over: Bangladesh 32-3 (Dilara 12, Fahima 7) Dilara is the next Bangladesh batter to find a boundary behind the keeper, a top edge taking two bounces on the way to the rope. Perry finds her spot just outside off-stump to tighten up the rest of the over.

6th over: Bangladesh 26-3 (Dilara 7, Fahima 6) Fahima Khatun finds the first boundary in more than three overs but it’s an unconvincing swipe that takes a top edge to clear Alyssa Healy behind the stumps. Vlaeminck is steaming in and causing all sorts of problems but can’t quite find a way through.

5th over: Bangladesh 19-3 (Dilara 6, Fahima 0) Bangladesh lose another wicket and opener Dilara Akter is at risk of running out of partners before she can get going. Australia have been sharp in the field, again demonstrating how high the benchmark is even after the hosts’ improved showing in the first innings.

The plan falls into place for Australia as Shorna Akter blazes away but picks out Sophie Molineux standing on the edge of the inner circle behind the stumps. Ellyse Perry claims a wicket in her first over.

4th over: Bangladesh 17-2 (Dilara 5, Shorna 0) Vlaeminck strikes in her second over to put Bangladesh on the ropes early. Most of Australia’s middle order might have missed out with the bat, but their quicks are on fire here.

CATCH! An incredible diving take from Beth Mooney standing at second slip even as the only fielder in the cordon. Ritu sliced the ball to where first slip might have been, as Mooney flew to her left to pull down a stunning catch. Australia look sharp in the field.

3rd over: Bangladesh 15-1 (Dilara 4, Ritu 9) Ritu Mon starts the over with consecutive boundaries as Bangladesh look to lift the run rate, but Schutt finds her line from there.

2nd over: Bangladesh 6-1 (Dilara 4, Ritu 0) Tayla Vlaeminck is back in the Australia lineup after being rested from the second T20I and is handed the new ball. A fiery first over has Bangladesh on the back foot, with a nudge to the leg-side from Dilara Akter for two the only runs conceded.

1st over: Bangladesh 4-1 (Dilara 2, Ritu 0) Dilara Akter immediately looks comfortable as Bangladesh get their chase underway with a batting lineup that will need to focus on preserving wickets while it doesn’t run too deep. Murshida Khatun can’t match her partner’s start as the opener falls to Megan Schutt in the opening over.

Murshida Khatun is gone from the second ball she faces after skying a shot that could just have easily been kept down. Ellyse Perry makes a tricky catch look simple.

A much-improved all-round effort from Bangladesh turned the pressure back on Australia. The hosts missed a couple of tough caught-and-bowled opportunities, as well as some run out half-chances, but mostly did what they needed to do with ball in hand and in the field to restrict Australia to a modest total.

Alyssa Healy took a little while to get going but still compiled 45 runs from 29 balls, with two sixes and six boundaries, until dismissed by the crafty Nahida Akter (3-31).

Australia returned to their more familiar batting lineup but their middle order looked all at sea while giving up four wickets for only 36 in just under eight overs.

Tahlia McGrath steadied the ship with an unbeaten 43 from 29 balls, playing a patient knock until unleashing in the final few overs to make yet another claim for a higher spot in the order.

Let’s see if Bangladesh can make the most of their hard work against the all-conquering Australia bowling attack. Back soon!

Source: theguardian.com