Australia secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the opening match of their three-game ODI series held in Brisbane. This fixture marked a historic milestone as the Bangladesh Women played their first-ever One Day International on Australian territory, though the hosts proved far too strong under the floodlights.
Dominant Bowling Performance
After electing to bowl first, the Australian attack dismantled the Bangladesh top order almost immediately. Megan Schutt was instrumental during the powerplay, removing Fargana Hogue and Sarmin Sultana with precision. Schutt finished her initial five-over spell with two maidens and just six runs conceded. Annabel Sutherland further hampered the visitors, claiming a four-wicket haul to stifle any momentum. Trapping Sarmin Sultana in front of the stumps, the early movement brought her another scalp in her next over. As Bangladesh went into a shell, the early blows were followed by a prolonged period of preservation.
Struggle for Scoring Momentum
Bangladesh encountered significant difficulty rotating the strike throughout the middle overs. Between the 15th and 30th overs, the batting lineup could only manage 40 runs. Although Shorna Akhter and captain Nigar Sultana attempted to steady the ship, the scoring rate dropped significantly. Following Sultana’s departure, the team struggled to find boundary opportunities, eventually limping to a total of 166 all out in 49.4 overs. Ritu Moni top-scored with 45, but the lack of substantial partnerships left the side well short of a competitive target. Shorna Akhter dug in alongside Nigar Sultana: between overs 15-30, Bangladesh only added 40 runs. They couldn’t find a big over and were left to make do with the odd boundary, finishing on 166, placed at 130/7 after 40 overs.
Litchfield Leads the Chase
The Australian response was swift and clinical. Opener Phoebe Litchfield dominated the crease, utilizing excellent footwork and finding consistent gaps in the field. Despite a promising debut spell from seventeen-year-old Habiba Islam—who dismissed Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney—Litchfield remained untroubled. She raced to 77 off just 57 balls, effectively ending the contest before the midway point of the second innings. Ellyse Perry provided stable support, rotating the strike as Australia coasted to the victory target of 168 in only 25.4 overs. Under lights, Australia made short work of the 167-run chase, led by Phoebe Litchfield’s enterprising 77 off 57, giving Bangladesh’s bowlers little opportunity to make a game out of it.
Match Summary
- Bangladesh Women166 all out in 49.4 overs (Ritu Moni 45, Nigar Sultana 29; Annabel Sutherland 4-30, Megan Schutt 2-19).
- Australia Women168/3 in 25.4 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 77, Ellyse Perry 26*; Habiba Islam 2-36, Rabeya Khan 1-32).
- ResultAustralia won by seven wickets.
The hosts now hold a 1-0 lead in the series, with Bangladesh facing a challenging task to level the contest in the upcoming encounters. While the result was lopsided, the experience provides the visiting side with critical exposure to high-level conditions, though they must find ways to counter the disciplined Australian bowling attack if they hope to be more competitive in the remaining fixtures.
