Key events
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.
WICKET! Dilara c Healy b Gardner 12 (Bangladesh 33-3)
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.
WICKET! Shorna c Molineux b Perry 0 (Bangladesh 19-3)
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.
WICKET! Ritu c Mooney b Vlaeminck 10 (Bangladesh 17-2)
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.
WICKET! Murshida c Perry b Schutt 1 (Bangladesh 4-1)
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.
Australia set Bangladesh 156-run target
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!
20th over: Australia 155-6 (McGrath 43) Harris starts the last over from Fariha Trisna with a huge six. McGrath makes room to pull a ball from well outside off stump back over mid-wicket, with only Rabeya Khan’s dive preventing a boundary. McGrath attempts the same shot from the next delivery – the last of the over – but can only get a nick behind the stumps. Harris looks for a second but McGrath has no interest and Bangladesh end the innings with a wicket.
WICKET! Harris run out Nigar 19
Grace Harris is run out of the last ball of the innings searching for a second run that was never there especially as Tahlia McGrath had already settled for a single. The Australia batters are almost at the same end as the bails are lifted.
19th over: Australia 141-5 (McGrath 41, Harris 12) Harris joins the fun and lifts the run rate with back-to-back boundaries off Nahida Akter. A quick single brings the dangerous McGrath on strike but the all-rounder needs a stroke of luck when she dances down the pitch and swipes at the ball. A paper-thin edge takes the ball past Nigar Sultana’s gloves as the ball trickles towards the boundary for three runs. Nahida finishes with 3-31.
18th over: Australia 127-5 (McGrath 37, Harris 2) SIXES! McGrath has had enough waiting around with a pair of devastating sixes, both smacked down the ground. The all-rounder looms as the key threat for Australia now as 19 runs are taken from the most expensive over of the innings so far.
17th over: Australia 108-5 (McGrath 20, Harris 2) CHANCE! Two in fact, as McGrath and Harris look unusually rattled amid some chaotic running between wickets. Bangladesh had back-to-back run out opportunities but both go begging. McGrath makes them pay with a powerful boundary from the last ball of the over.
16th over: Australia 100-5 (McGrath 13, Harris 1) Rabeya picks up the wicket of Wareham and almost makes it two in an over as McGrath drives low and straight, but the bowler can’t get both hands around the ball. Bangladesh are piling on the pressure but might be left to rue a couple of missed C&Bs.
WICKET! Wareham st Nigar b Rabeya 4 (Australia 98-5)
No heroics from Wareham this time as Rabeya gets the wicket she has deserved. Wareham steps out of her crease and swift glovework from Nigar Sultana gives the Australian no chance.
15th over: Australia 96-4 (McGrath 11, Wareham 3) McGrath and Wareham are digging in now as Australia look to protect their wickets. McGrath changes that with a sweetly timed cover drive for four.
14th over: Australia 90-4 (McGrath 6, Wareham 2) Nahida Akter has been the standout bowler in an impressive performance from Bangladesh, with the left-arm spinner taking 3-17 from three overs so far. Australia are paying a heavy price for almost every risky shot at the moment.
WICKET! Gardner c Ritu b Nahida 16 (Australia 86-4)
Gardner falls for the trap as Bangladesh move Ritu Moni to the rope and the Australia all-rounder picks her out with a lofted drive to long-off. The hosts are reaping the rewards of some clever cricket right now.
13th over: Australia 86-3 (Gardner 16, McGrath 4) Australia again struggle to get Rabeya away with five more singles from the over. Bangladesh won’t mind that.
12th over: Australia 81-3 (Gardner 13, McGrath 2) Ash Gardner remains watchful but almost can’t help but dispatch a fine delivery through cover for a boundary.
11th over: Australia 76-3 (Gardner 8, McGrath 2) Australia’s middle order might appreciate this challenge as Gardner and McGrath look to rebuild the innings. Five singles taken from Rabeya’s over without any risks being taken.
10th over: Australia 71-3 (Gardner 5, McGrath 0) A neat over from Nahida Akter puts the pressure on Australia as Gardner and Perry have to be content with nudging the ball around, until a wicket falls from a soft shot off the ball before drinks.
WICKET! Perry c Marufa b Nahida 8 (Australia 71-3)
Another soft dismissal as Perry steps back to cut a slower ball but hits it straight to Marufa Akter at point for what looked like catching practice. Australia are out to dominate Bangladesh but a series of loose shots leave the match evenly poised.
9th over: Australia 67-2 (Perry 6, Gardner 3) Rabeya Khan comes into the attack with a tidy over as Perry and Gardner look to settle in.
8th over: Australia 62-2 (Perry 4, Gardner 0) Nahida Akter picks up the prized wicket of Alyssa Healy after the Australia skipper put her to the sword with a pair of punishing boundaries. This is a much-improved display from Bangladesh but there is no let up as Australia all-rounder Ash Gardner strides out to the crease.
WICKET! Healy c Shorna b Nahida 45 (Australia 62-2)
The Australia skipper was starting to open up with back-to-back boundaries but pushed the attacking intent too far with a third swipe that flew straight to the fielder. Healy will feel like she missed out there.
7th over: Australia 53-1 (Healy 37, Perry 3) SIX! Healy looks set for a big score as the opener finds the boundary early in the over then ends it by lifting the second six of the innings with a perfectly-timed drive down the ground. Shot of the day!
6th over: Australia 40-1 (Healy 27, Perry 1) Healy whacks the first ball of Shorifa’s over for four over backward square leg, but Mooney gives Bangladesh a hint of hope with a rush of blood that hands the hosts the first wicket of the innings. Australia look to have put the tricks back in the bag, with Ellyse Perry coming in at her more familiar No 3.
WICKET! Mooney st Sultana b Khatun 10 (Australia 39-1)
Mooney dances down the pitch but is beaten in the flight before the ball spins away. Bangladesh keeper Nigar Sultana makes no mistake to lift the bails before the Australia opener has even attempted to get back in time.
5th over: Australia 34-0 (Healy 22, Mooney 10) Beth Mooney starts the over with an outrageous reverse sweep / ramp shot that flies over the keeper’s head and deserved more than just a single. Fariha Islam then stops the flow of runs with a tidy over, the best of the innings so far for Bangladesh.
4th over: Australia 30-0 (Healy 20, Mooney 9) Marufa Akter switches ends as Bangladesh turn to pace at both ends. Healy finds another boundary, this time hitting straighter through mid-on, as the Australia skipper starts to look more ominous.
3rd over: Australia 22-0 (Healy 14, Mooney 7) SIX! Bangladesh make an early change with Fariha Trisna coming into the attack. Healy shows her little respect with a punishing six over mid-wicket off the first ball, while the visitors pick up easy singles from there. Australia have found a boundary in every over so far without needing to take too many risks.
2nd over: Australia 13-0 (Healy 6, Mooney 6) Run out chance missed! A bright start for Bangladesh hasn’t quite got the reward it deserves, as some sharp fielding almost catches Mooney out running towards the non-striker’s end. The opener eased up as she approached the crease and was fortunate the throw went centimetres wide of the stumps. Healy resumes normal proceedings with a vicious boundary off Shorifa Khatun.
1st over: Australia 7-0 (Healy 1, Mooney 5) Healy dropped! Marufa Akter opens the bowling for Bangladesh and immediately finds plenty of movement through the air. Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney look comfortable as they pick up seven easy runs but the teenage-quick almost claims the vital wicket of the Australia skipper. Healy was through a drive too quickly and hit the ball straight back to Marufa, but the right-armer couldn’t get her hands right in time to grasp the chance. What a start that would’ve been for Bangladesh!
Back in Dhaka, Australia have shown their intent to post a big score with skipper Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney back at the top of the order with play about to get under way.
Another women’s white-ball clash has just wrapped up, as England defeated New Zealand by 56 runs in the second ODI Hamilton.
Tammy Beaumont blasted 81 to guide the tourists to 252 in the first innings, as the White Ferns fell well short of their target.
England now hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Catch up on how that match played out:
Australia have rarely been tested by Bangladesh as their squad have almost taken it in turns to put on a show while competing amongst themselves for spots in the XI.
Georgia Wareham did the damage in the second T20I, the leg-spinner putting herself forward as a top-order option with 57 runs from 30 balls.
Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck have also pressed their claims to be part of the Australia squad to return to Bangladesh for the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Australia win the toss and elect to bat first in the third women’s T20I against Bangladesh.
Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (c/wk), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck
Bangladesh XI: coming soon!
Australia have won the toss and will BAT first in the third and final T20I against Bangladesh #BANvAUS
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) April 4, 2024
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to the third women’s T20I between Bangladesh and Australia.
This is the last match in the T20I series, and the last of six white-ball matches between the teams on Australia’s tour of Bangladesh that started with three ODIs.
The imperious visitors need one more victory in this T20I to complete a clean sweep of both series in what has been a near-flawless preparation for the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.
The reigning Women’s T20 World Cup champions have used the tour to trial new tactics and talents, with Georgia Wareham promoted up the order and making the most of her opportunity with a first international half-century in the second T20I.
Whether Australia have any surprises in store for us in the third T20I will be revealed shortly, with the toss and team news to be with us soon from what looks like perfect conditions in Dhaka.
Play starts at 12pm at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium, also known as 5pm AEDT for those following the over-by-over report from the conversely wet and wild east coast of Australia.
I’m Martin Pegan, drop me an email or send a message on X / Twitter at @martinpegan.
Let’s get into it!