Bangladesh failed to complete a clean sweep of Australia despite a career-best six-wicket haul from Shariful Islam and half-centuries from three batters, suffering a dramatic one-wicket defeat in the third and final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Having already secured the series with victories in the first two matches, Bangladesh still claimed the three-match series 2-1.
Batting first after winning the toss, Bangladesh posted 274-5 in their 50 overs. Opener Soumya Sarkar fell early, but Tanzid Hasan (19) and stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (24) steadied the innings with a 51-run partnership.
After Bangladesh slipped to 61-3, Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy rebuilt the innings with a 95-run stand. Litton retired hurt on 48 due to a muscle strain, while Hridoy went on to score 83 off 88 balls.
Mosaddek Hossain then provided late momentum with an unbeaten 56, while Litton returned to the crease and finished unbeaten on 58 as Bangladesh reached a competitive total.
In reply, Australia lost early wickets and were reduced to 70-3, with Shariful Islam making key breakthroughs. However, opener Cooper Connolly anchored the chase superbly, building crucial partnerships through the middle order.
Connolly brought up his maiden ODI century in his 12th match and continued to dominate the Bangladesh attack. Even as wickets fell around him, he kept Australia in the contest with a magnificent 149 off 134 balls, featuring 13 fours and six sixes.
Shariful sparked hopes of a Bangladesh victory by claiming three wickets in the closing stages and finished with career-best figures of 6-48 from 10 overs. Mustafizur Rahman eventually dismissed Connolly in the 49th over, leaving Australia needing four runs with one wicket in hand.
But Adam Zampa struck the winning boundary off Taskin Ahmed in the final over to seal a thrilling one-wicket win for the visitors.
Connolly was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock, while Mosaddek Hossain earned the Player of the Series award as Bangladesh secured the ODI series 2-1.
