Australia secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the first match of the three-game series in Brisbane, marking a challenging start to Bangladesh Women’s maiden ODI tour of Australia. After choosing to bowl first, the Australian attack dismantled the opposition, limiting Bangladesh to 166 all out in 49.4 overs.
Megan Schutt set the tone early, removing Fargana Hogue and Sarmin Sultana during a tight five-over spell that included two maidens and only six runs conceded. Annabel Sutherland continued the pressure, finishing with impressive figures of 4-30. Despite a 29-run effort from Nigar Sultana and a late-innings contribution of 45 from Ritu Moni, the visitors struggled to accelerate, adding only 40 runs between the 15th and 30th overs. Tahlia McGrath and Georgia Wareham further stifled the scoring as Bangladesh failed to capitalize in the final stages. 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. Who could only edge it to slips, megan Schutt reared one in sharply into Fargana Hogue. Trapping Sarmin Sultana in front of the stumps, the early movement brought her another scalp in her next over. But Annabel Sutherland accounted for her in her first over, thanks to a brilliant catch at short square leg by Alana King, sharmin Akhter kept one end going. As Bangladesh went into a shell, the early blows were followed by a prolonged period of preservation.
Chasing 167 for victory, the Australian lineup displayed clinical intent. Phoebe Litchfield spearheaded the pursuit with an aggressive 77 off just 57 deliveries, finding the boundary with ease and utilizing her footwork to counter the spin options. By the 10-over mark, the hosts had raced to 74/1, effectively silencing any hope of a Bangladesh comeback. 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.
Although seventeen-year-old debutant Habiba Islam provided some individual highlights by taking 2-36—including the wicket of Georgia Voll—and Rabeya Khan managed to claim Litchfield, Australia remained firmly in control. Ellyse Perry, appearing in her 20th year of international cricket, anchored the chase with an unbeaten 26, guiding the side across the finish line in just 25.4 overs alongside Sutherland.
The match concluded with Australia posting 168/3. For Bangladesh, the defeat serves as a steep learning curve in their first ODI outing in Australia, with the series set to continue as they look to address their struggles against the hosts’ disciplined bowling attack.
