Connolly's maiden ODI ton helps Australia avoid Bangladesh whitewash

Australia's Cameron Green congratulates Cooper Connolly (AP Photo)

Cooper Connolly produced the innings of his ODI career as Australia avoided a series whitewash against Bangladesh with a dramatic one-wicket victory in the third and final ODI in Dhaka on Sunday.The left-hander struck a magnificent 149, his maiden ODI century, and held Australia's chase together despite a remarkable fightback from Bangladesh spearheaded by Shoriful Islam's six-wicket haul. Australia eventually crossed the line with three balls remaining, finishing on 277/9 in pursuit of 275.

After electing to bat, Bangladesh overcame a shaky beginning to post a competitive 274/5. Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 83, while Litton Das contributed an unbeaten 58 and Mosaddek Hossain added a rapid 56 not out as the hosts recovered impressively from early setbacks.Australia's chase started positively, with Josh Inglis attacking from the outset. The wicketkeeper-batter struck 21 from just 12 deliveries as the visitors raced to 40 without loss inside five overs.Bangladesh responded through Shoriful Islam, who turned the game on its head with two wickets in the same over. Inglis fell to a leg-side trap before Matt Renshaw was bowled, leaving Australia suddenly under pressure. Taskin Ahmed then removed Alex Carey, courtesy of a spectacular catch from Soumya Sarkar at cover, reducing the tourists to 71/3.

Amid the collapse, Connolly remained composed. He absorbed the pressure, rotated the strike effectively and punished scoring opportunities whenever they appeared.Together with Marnus Labuschagne, Connolly rebuilt the innings through a crucial 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Labuschagne contributed a patient 29 before edging Shoriful Islam behind to substitute wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan.Connolly continued to dominate the chase and received further support from Cameron Green.

The pair added 58 runs before Green was dismissed by Mahedi Hasan for 27.Despite battling cramps in the humid Dhaka conditions, Connolly reached his maiden ODI hundred from only 87 balls and appeared set to guide Australia comfortably to victory.However, Bangladesh mounted one final challenge.Shoriful completed his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket by dismissing Oliver Peake and Xavier Bartlett in successive deliveries. The left-arm pacer later removed Ben Dwarshuis as well, eventually finishing with outstanding figures of 6/48.The tension increased further when Mustafizur Rahman bowled Connolly in the penultimate over. His dismissal for a superb 149 triggered panic as Australia slipped from 266/5 to 271/9, leaving the result suddenly in doubt.Needing two runs from the final over, Australia relied on their last recognised batter.

Adam Zampa

responded calmly, driving Taskin Ahmed through the covers to seal a thrilling victory and prevent Bangladesh from completing a clean sweep.Earlier, Bangladesh's innings had begun on a difficult note after Xavier Bartlett removed Parvez Hossain Emon cheaply.Tanzid Hasan Tamim briefly counterattacked with 20 from 19 deliveries, including a six and two boundaries, but Bangladesh lost their second wicket at 53 when Matt Renshaw forced a miscue to mid-on at the end of the Powerplay.Renshaw struck again soon after, bowling captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for 24 and leaving Bangladesh struggling at 62/3 in the 15th over.Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy then stabilised the innings with a composed partnership. Australia's spinners, led by Adam Zampa and Renshaw, kept the scoring under control, but the pair continued to rotate strike and gradually rebuild.Litton found momentum during the middle overs despite battling a calf issue, while Hridoy became increasingly fluent as the innings progressed. The right-hander reached his half-century and helped Bangladesh move beyond 190 in the 39th over.The hosts accelerated significantly in the closing stages. Hridoy and Mosaddek added 90 runs together, shifting the momentum firmly in Bangladesh's favour.Hridoy's impressive innings ended for 83 from 88 balls after he was caught at deep midwicket in the 46th over. His knock featured eight boundaries.Mosaddek completed a brisk fifty from just 43 balls, while Litton, who had briefly retired hurt because of cramp, returned to the crease and reached his own half-century from 75 deliveries.Although Australia picked up a few late wickets through Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis, Bangladesh's middle order ensured they finished with a challenging total of 274/5.Ultimately, however, Connolly's career-best knock proved decisive as Australia escaped with a dramatic victory in the series finale.Brief Scores: Bangladesh 274/5 in 50 overs (Towhid Hridoy 83, Litton Das 58*, Mosaddek Hossain 56*; Matt Renshaw 2/44) lost to Australia 277/9 in 49.3 overs (Cooper Connolly 149, Marnus Labuschagne 29; Shoriful Islam 6/48) by one wicket.