Opener Georgia Voll has smashed her third ODI century in just her 15th match to secure Australia a comfortable nine-wicket win over Bangladesh and a series victory.
Earlier, Bangladesh centurion Sobhana Mostary played one of the great ODI knocks to lift the visitors to 6-220 as records tumbled at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field.
Mostary, 24, made a magnificent 118 off 134 deliveries and with her captain Nigar Sultana (74no off 114) added 195 for the fourth wicket — the highest partnership against Australia in women’s ODI history.
But making a mockery of the run chase, Voll and Phoebe Litchfield added 162 off just 119 deliveries in an opening stand that combined brute strength and creativity to the maximum, setting Australia up for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Litchfield (70 off 51) played strokes all around the ground in her entertaining knock while Voll’s power game came to the fore as she bludgeoned anything loose.
Voll’s unbeaten 131 off 97 deliveries became the highest individual women’s ODI score at the venue, breaking a record Mostary had equalled only hours earlier.
The player of the match’s strong bottom hand came to the fore and she was also dominant through cover when given width as Australia coasted to victory in 28.1 overs.
Voll, 23, became the first woman to score two ODI centuries at AB Field after making 101 against India at the venue in 2024.
Mostary and Sultana’s stand was the largest for any Bangladesh wicket in women’s ODIs and was the foundation of the team’s highest total against Australia.
It was not enough to challenge Australia but it was achieved with immaculate stroke play, tactical nous and plenty of courage.
The two Bangladesh heroes came together with their side desperate at 3-8 in the eighth over and embarked on their rescue mission with class.
Mostary brought up her fifty with a cut shot off leg spinner Alana King after driving her through cover with panache to the fence.
She earlier struck three exquisite boundaries through the offside in leggie Georgia Wareham’s first over.
Mostary now holds the record for the highest all-time score by a No.5 against Australia in women’s ODI history, and the best by a Bangladesh batter.
Sultana was strong off her legs, with two immaculate flicks to the fence with perfect balance a highlight. She played the perfect foil to Mostary.
Australia quick Megan Schutt (4-36) was the pick of the bowlers, including ending Mostary’s epic knock when she struck her leg stump.
Veteran Bangladesh opener Fargana Hoque (0) has faced two deliveries from Schutt in this series and lost her wicket both times.
Fellow opener Sarmin Sultana (five) was trapped in front after quick-thinking wicketkeeper Beth Mooney called for DRS when bowler Kim Garth was unsure.
An inswinging yorker by Schutt accounted for Sharmin Akhter (0) and the visitors were in all sorts in the eighth over.
Australia sent Bangladesh in for the second time in the ODI series as they believed rain may have impacted the run chase.
Both sides were unchanged from Friday’s opening match of the three-match series, which Australia won by seven wickets.
AAP
Discussion about this post