Tigresses’ batting woes persist in historic Australia ODI opener

Bangladesh produced yet another disappointing batting display in their historic first ODI on Australian soil as the hosts cruised to a seven-wicket victory in the opening match of the three-game series at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Friday.

After Megan Schutt struck twice inside the opening nine deliveries to leave Bangladesh reeling, the visitors were bowled out for 166 in 49.4 overs. Phoebe Litchfield then smashed a blistering 77 off 57 balls as Australia reached the target in just 25.4 overs, with 146 balls to spare.

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Schutt set the tone with a superb new-ball spell, dismissing opener Fargana Hoque off the first ball of the match before trapping Sharmin Sultana leg-before in her next over. The double strike took the veteran pacer to 150 ODI wickets, making her only the third Australian woman to reach the milestone after Cathryn Fitzpatrick and Ellyse Perry.

Schutt finished with figures of 2-19 from her 10 overs, while Annabel Sutherland claimed four wickets for 30 runs to dismantle Bangladesh’s lower order.

Bangladesh struggled to recover from the early blows, losing their third wicket at 33 when Sutherland had Sharmin Akter Supta caught by Alana King at square leg. Supta offered some resistance with an aggressive 24 off 26 deliveries, including five boundaries.

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Sobhana Mostary managed just two off 17 balls before departing, leaving the visitors in further trouble. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty and Sworna Akter then attempted to steady the innings, adding 35 runs for the fifth wicket.

Nigar, however, struggled to accelerate and departed for 29 off 86 balls in the 28th over, with Bangladesh at 83. Sworna contributed 21 off 50 deliveries before falling at 103, leaving the visitors in need of a late push.

That responsibility fell on Ritu Moni, who produced a fighting 45 off 63 balls to take Bangladesh close to the 50-over mark. Her run-out in the 48th over proved costly, as the visitors were eventually bowled out with two balls remaining.

Australia’s chase was hardly troubled despite Georgia Voll’s dismissal for 19 off 18 balls, caught off the bowling of 17-year-old debutant Habiba Akter Islam Pinky.

Litchfield took charge after a cautious start, striking boundaries at will and reaching her half-century off just 35 deliveries. She added 89 runs with Perry for the second wicket before falling to Rabeya Khan, with Ritu Moni taking the catch.

Perry remained unbeaten on 26 to guide Australia home comfortably, while Habiba claimed her second wicket by dismissing Beth Mooney for 13.

The two teams will meet again at the same venue on Sunday, with Bangladesh looking to address their batting shortcomings and put up a stronger challenge in the second ODI.