
Adam Zampa and debutant Joel Davies have spun Australia to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first T20 of their three-match series.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Bangladesh were bundled out for an under-par 131 in 19 overs, which the Aussies moved past with 10 deliveries to spare at Chattogram on Wednesday to take a 1-0 series lead.
Cooper Connolly, the hero of Australia’s ODI victory in Dhaka on Sunday, continued his form surge, top-scoring with 47 in an otherwise unconvincing chase from the tourists.
The Tigers made a fast start before recklessly submitting to Australia’s slow bowlers, nine of the 10 wickets falling to spin.
Bowling allrounder Mahedi Hasan (29no), opener Saif Hassan (20) and No.3 Soumya Sarkar (17) were the only Bangladesh batters to pass 10.
Left-arm orthodox tweaker Davies (3-17) and leg-spinner Adam Zampa (3-18) were the chief destroyers.
Nikhil Chaudhary, Australia’s other debutant, claimed 1-14 and took two catches, the first one a superb diving effort off Zampa at deep cover to dismiss Soumya.
Davies removed wicketkeeper Parvez Hossain Emon (10) with just his second international delivery, before Zampa became the first Aussie to take 150 wickets in men’s T20s when Shoriful Islam picked out Tim David.
In reply, Josh Inglis (5) and returning captain Mitch Marsh (13) departed early in the chase, before Connolly steadied the ship.
The 23-year-old left-hander struck three sixes in his 27-ball knock and had a maiden T20 half-century in his sights when he holed out to Shoriful off first-gamer Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.
David (20), Chaudhary (18) and Matt Renshaw (18) fell with victory in sight, before Xavier Bartlett finished the Tigers off with a first-ball boundary to reach 6-133.
The second T20 will also be played at Chattogram on Friday.
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