Australia continued their relentless dominance over Bangladesh, completing a comprehensive clean sweep in both the ODI and T20 series. Their most emphatic victory came in the final T20 match played on Thursday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The confident "Kangaroos" whitewashed the Bangladeshi "Tigresses" by a commanding 77 runs.
Alyssa Healy, Australia's explosive wicketkeeper-batter, was rightfully awarded Player of the Match for her blistering knock of 45 runs off just 29 balls. Healy's innings was a whirlwind of power hitting, peppered with six boundaries and two towering sixes before she was unfortunately dismissed by slow left-arm orthodox bowler Nahida Akhter.
The bowling attack orchestrated Australia's clinical dismantling of the Bangladeshi batting line-up. Right-arm pace sensation Tayla Vlaeminck spearheaded the attack with a phenomenal spell, claiming a career-best haul of 3 wickets for only 12 runs. Leg-spinner Georgia Wareham provided excellent support, picking up a crucial wicket for just 2 runs in her economical spell.
Bangladesh's batting faltered under the relentless pressure. Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty, with a fighting knock of 32 runs off 31 balls, was the lone Tigress to manage a respectable score. Notably, seven Bangladeshi batters failed to reach double digits, highlighting Australia's bowling domination. The second T20 match displayed Australia's versatility, with spin taking center stage. However, the final match showcased the raw pace and guile of their pace and off-spin attack. Vlaeminck and Wareham combined to dismantle the Bangladeshi top order, reducing them to a precarious 7 for 44 runs inside the first 11 overs.
Earlier, opting to bat first, Australia laid a solid foundation with a 39-run opening partnership between Healy and Beth Mooney. Mooney, though cautious, played a responsible role, scoring 10 runs off 13 balls before being dismissed by right-arm off-break bowler Shorifa Khatun.
After Healy's departure, Meg Lanning (Australia's captain) joined the fray and steadied the innings with a 23-run partnership alongside Healy. The middle order provided a late flourish, with all-rounder Tahlia McGrath (unbeaten 43 runs off 29 balls) and lower-order batter Grace Harris (31 runs off 18 balls) adding a crucial 57 runs in just 27 balls.
Nahida Akhter was the lone bright spark for Bangladesh's bowling attack, bagging 3 wickets for 31 runs in her four overs. However, her efforts were overshadowed by Australia's collective brilliance.
This emphatic victory solidifies Australia's position at the top of the table for the 2022–25 cycle of the Championship. With two series remaining against India and New Zealand later this year, the Australian Women's Cricket Team continues to be a force to be reckoned with.
