Khairul Alam From Chattogram Stadium — Bangladesh suffered a heartbreaking 7-run defeat against Australia in the second T20I in Chittagong, subsequently losing the three-match series 2-0.
Chasing a daunting target of 197, the Tigers fought valiantly but ultimately finished their 20 overs at 189 for 6. Stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy kept hopes alive until the very last ball, but his final-ball dismissal sealed Bangladesh’s fate in a classic “so close yet so far” finish.
A Flying Start Ends in Shock Defeat
Bangladesh’s run chase began in spectacular fashion. Openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Saif Hassan, followed by a fiery cameo from Parvez Hossain Emon, put the hosts in a commanding position.
The Tigers were scoring at a blistering pace early on:
-
Powerplay (6 overs): 72 runs
-
8 overs: 81 runs
-
9 overs: 97 runs
At that stage, a historic victory seemed well within reach. However, a sudden batting collapse and slow scoring in the lower-middle order during the death overs turned the tide completely in Australia’s favor.
Australia Sets a Massive Target
Earlier in the day, Australia won the toss and elected to bat, posting a formidable total of 196 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs.
The star of the Australian innings was Matt Renshaw, who blasted a sensational 89 off just 52 balls, decorated with 5 towering sixes. Tim David provided the late-flurry acceleration, smashing a quickfire 45 off 26 deliveries to push the visitors past the 190-mark.
The Heartbreaking Final Over
While no Bangladeshi batter managed a massive individual score like Renshaw, several players contributed with impactful cameos:
-
Saif Hassan: 42 off 33 balls
-
Parvez Hossain Emon: 36 off 22 balls
-
Towhid Hridoy: 35 off 22 balls
-
Tanzid Hasan Tamim: 30 off 15 balls
Despite the solid platform, the momentum stalled in the final overs. Shamim Patwari struggled to get going, scoring a sluggish 7 off 8 balls, while Abdul Gaffar Saklayen managed 13 off 11 balls—strike rates far below what was required in a 190+ chase.
With 18 runs needed off the final three balls, Towhid Hridoy gave the crowd a glimmer of hope by smashing a six on the fourth ball, followed by a boundary on the fifth.
With a six needed off the final delivery to tie the game, Hridoy went for the big hit but was caught at long-on, ending Bangladesh’s spirited chase just 7 runs short.