Connolly, spin duo give Aussies 1-0 lead

Following Adam Zampa and Joel Davies’ exertions, Cooper Connolly struck an impressive 47 to steer Australia to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh on Wednesday, as the tourists chased down a modest target of 132 with 10 balls in hand to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh, led by stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy in place of the injured Litton Das, struck early as in-form Shoriful Islam removed opener Josh Inglis for five, before Mustafizur Rahman accounted for Mitchell Marsh, who made 13, leaving Australia at 38-2 after 4.5 overs.
Connolly, however, continued to attack the Bangladesh pacers before he was caught attempting a six off debutant Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, falling three runs short of a maiden T20 International half-century.
His rapid innings ended on 47 off just 27 balls, studded with four fours and three sixes, leaving Australia firmly ahead in the chase. 
Connolly added 40 for the third wicket with Tim David, who soon followed, also going for a six off Mahedi Hasan, after making 20 off 16 balls.
Matthew Renshaw and debutant Nikhil Chaudhary both had the chance to finish the game but fell after scoring 18 apiece, as Saqlain and Rishad Hossain struck.
Debutant Davies and Xavier Bartlett guided Australia home in 18.2 overs, with the former unbeaten on seven and the latter not out on four.
Saqlain finished as the most successful bowler for Bangladesh with 2-32, while Shoriful, Mustafizur, Mahedi and Rishad took one wicket each.
Earlier, Bangladesh had been bowled out for 131 with one over to spare after choosing to bat first on a batting-friendly track.
Zampa and Davies ran through the hosts’ batting, finishing with 3-18 and 3-17 respectively, as Australia’s spinners claimed nine wickets in the innings, the most by the side’s slow bowlers in any T20I, and the first instance tweakers have taken nine scalps in a T20I innings in Bangladesh.
Openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Saif Hassan had given Bangladesh a brisk start, putting on 26 before Tanzid fell driving on the up off left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson, having made 10 off nine deliveries.
Saif departed soon after, dismissed whilst attacking Renshaw’s part-time off-spin, as Bangladesh were reduced to 39-2 after 4.5 overs.
Hridoy, leading his country for the first time after becoming Bangladesh’s 13th captain, hammered a six off his first ball but fell to Zampa for eight.
Soumya Sarkar added 17 before he too fell to the leggie, while Renshaw removed the dangerous Shamim Hossain Patwary cheaply.
Davies then initiated twin breakthroughs in quick succession, sending back both Parvez Hossain Emon and Saqlain, each dismissed for 10.
Mahedi’s unbeaten 29 off 22 balls, including four boundaries, helped Bangladesh recover and post a respectable total, with late support of three, seven and seven from Rishad, Shoriful and Mustafizur.