Summary
That’s where we will leave things today. There were some really positive signs from Bangladesh with their bowling and then in the first few overs at the crease, but it was just not nearly enough to stop the force that is Australia’s women’s cricket team. Healy and the selectors opted to take a few small risks by changing up the batting order, but they paid off, Wareham and Harris putting on a brilliant partnership and perhaps posing some new questions for when it comes to World Cup decisions. I’ll be interested to see whether they shake things up again for the third T20 on Thursday, or they stick with this lineup, or they revert to business as usual one last time.
Litchfield had another poor outing with the bat, but as Healy said after the match, she’s a very young player who is still finding her feet at the international level. The captain backed her to come out of this period and show more of the exciting cricket we’ve seen from her in the past.
Thanks for following along today. See you next time!
Australia’s captain Healy steps up to offer a few words, saying she is thrilled with the cricket her side played today, even more so than getting the win itself. I guess you have to say things like that when all you ever do is win.
Asked if we can expect more experimentation in Thursday’s T20, Healy says we’ll have to wait and see but that she “thoroughly enjoyed” batting at No 10 today.
Australia shook up their batting order but it didn't stop them romping to another BIG win in Dhaka #BANvAUS
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) April 2, 2024
Scorecard: https://t.co/cAo12qxCHr pic.twitter.com/CaqI54OiqR
Updated
Player of the match: Georgia Wareham
For her 57 runs after being bumped up the order, followed by a wicket, Wareham is unsurprisingly given player of the match. She says her time in the WPL has helped her have the confidence to move up the order and perform like that.
Not sure if we are getting a player of the match presentation or not … I would have thought Wareham, Gardner or maybe Molineux would be in line for that. There seems to be a pause in the feed from Bangladesh but I will keep you updated.
Australia win by 58 runs
And with that Australia also claim the T20i series with two wins. After some positives in their bowling, including Trishna’s hat-trick in the final over, their batting left a lot to be desired and Bangladesh will be disappointed with how their match unravelled in the end. Gardner and Molineux took three wickets each in the end, and Wareham was impressive in backing up her 57 runs with 1-24.
20th over: Bangladesh 103-9 (Rabeya 14, Trishna 1) Schutt takes the final over. Rabeya is again lucky not to be caught in the outfield after mishitting very high. Four leg byes on the final ball take Bangladesh to three figures, which will be a very small consolation.
WICKET! Marufa st Healy b Schutt (Bangladesh 98-9)
Bangladesh lose their ninth wicket. Marufa steps down the wicket and Healy picks it up cleanly for yet another stumping. Bangladesh devastatingly short of the 100.
19th over: Bangladesh 94-8 (Rabeya 7, Marufa 3) Sutherland comes back in. Rabeya and Marufa manage to find some gaps in the field but it’s another good over from Sutherland.
18th over: Bangladesh 89-8 (Rabeya 4, Marufa 1) A great over from Molineux with a wicket and just the four runs from it. Rabeya hitting to deep backward square leg for two on the final ball
WICKET! Nahida lbw Molineux (Bangladesh 86-8)
Nahida departs for one. Can Bangladesh get over 100, any less would be a huge dispappointment for them.
Updated
17th over: Bangladesh 85-7 (Rabeya 1, Nahida 1) Rabeya tries to sweep and misses, blocks the next couple, then pulls off a sweep and runs a single. Gardner finishes her impressive spell with 3-17.
WICKET! Shorna b Gardner (Bangladesh 83-7)
Shorna trots down the wicket exposing the stumps and Gardner’s ball smashes into the top of off stump.
16th over: Bangladesh 83-6 (Shorna 21, Rabeya 0) Great over from Molineux. They shout for lbw on the final ball but the umpires is not interested in that one. Bangladesh need 79 from 24, which seems highly improbable.
WICKET! Shorifa b Molineux (Bangladesh 83-6)
Shorifa tries to play across the line and misses, and loses her off stump. Bangladesh have lost all momentum now.
15th over: Bangladesh 82-5 (Shorna 20, Shorifa 3) A very tight call on a possible stumping – Shorna just gets her toe back behind the line in time. They run three off Shorna’s edge to third man. Shorifa comes to the crease and survives some jitters, edging it high and back over Healy twice.
WICKET! Fahima b Gardner (Bangladesh 78-5)
Fahima goes to sweep and misses, leaving the ball to hit the top of off stump.
Updated
14th over: Bangladesh 75-4 (Fahima 15, Shorna 16) Shorna skips down the wicket and hits Wareham for six straight down the ground. There are very limited camera angles and the quality of footage is not great so it takes the umpires a while to determine whether its four or six. Wareham indicates she thinks it should be a six so that she can get on with it. Then Fatima hits over mid-on and across the rope for four. A much more expensive over for Wareham and more inline with what Bangladesh need.
13th over: Bangladesh 61-4 (Fahima 9, Shorna 8) Sutherland is bowling really well, enticing Fahima to swing. Shorna smacks the fourth delivery through cover for two runs, then flicks the fifth around to square leg for no runs.
12th over: Bangladesh 58-4 (Fahima 8, Shorna 6) Shorna gets her first boundary hitting past long on, then survives a stumping chance as Healy fumbles behind the wicket. A bit better from Bangladesh but they will need to pick things up a bit for a chance at an upset here.
11th over: Bangladesh 51-4 (Fahima 6, Shorna 1) Sutherland brings the pace, sort of. Bangladesh bring up their 50 with three runs from that over. The hosts need 111 from 54 balls.
10th over: Bangladesh 48-4 (Fahima 4, Shorna 0) At the 10th-over mark and Bangladesh look like they are starting to come unstuck. Wareham, Schutt, Gardner and Molineux have one each.
WICKET! Dilara b Wareham (Bangladesh 48-4)
The spinners continue to punish Bangladesh. The opener steps across and goes for a pull short but the ball thunders into off stump. Dilara got Bangladesh off to a strong start in the power play, contributing 27 to the chase.
9th over: Bangladesh 45-3 (Dilara 28, Fahima 1) Dilara starts with a lovely slog sweep but it’s stopped short of the boundary. Dilara is still looking good but the runs have certainly dropped off since the end of the power play. With the captain dismissed, Fahima comes to the crease and takes a single off the final ball.
WICKET! Nigar c Sutherland b Molineux (Bangladesh 44-3)
The captain departs for one run after trying to hit over mid-wicket but not nailing the height. Can Dilara keep up her run rate as her partners fall away, or will this be the beginning of the end for Bangladesh?
8th over: Bangladesh 43-2 (Dilara 26, Nigar 1) Wareham is into the mix and secures a maiden over.
7th over: Bangladesh 43-2 (Dilara 26, Nigar 1) Dilara is lucky to avoid being caught off a top edge. Just three runs and a wicket off that over from Gardner.
Actually I have to correct the record the first wicket has been given as caught behind rather than stumped. Murshida edged it back to Healy.
WICKET! Shobana st Healy b Gardner (Bangladesh 40-2)
Another stumping! Shobana dances down the wicket and Healy is able to take the bails off juuuuust before Shobana swings around and grounds her bat. It’s another very close one. The umpires have a very good look and it’s given out. A few more runs for Shobana this time around but only just.
6th over: Bangladesh 40-1 (Dilara 24, Shobana 5) After two balls there’s a short pause as Dilara receives some medical attention – perhaps to her wrist.
Play resumes and Shobana hits to short cover for a single. Dilara then hits up towards midwicket but it falls just short of the diving fielder. Nice over from Perry.
5th over: Bangladesh 38-1 (Dilara 23, Shobana 4) A bit of relief for Schutt after being smacked for boundaries. Shobana comes to the crease and after a few wobbles is able to find the gap at point and end the over with a four.
WICKET! Murshida c Healy b Schutt (Bangladesh 34-1)
Oof that is a close one, Murshida gets her first boundary then is stumped next ball. There is no DRS and Murshida is extremely unhappy with that decision – the umpire took a long, long time to raise the finger. The footage is not conclusive either, so that’s that, she has to depart.
*Turns out she was not stumped but caught.. hence my confusion
Updated
4th over: Bangladesh 30-0 (Murshida 4, Dilara 23) Molineux keeps Bangladesh to just three runs to start her spell. Bangladesh will need to run hard for the ones and twos if they are going to have a decent go at this chase.
3rd over: Bangladesh 27-0 (Murshida 2, Dilara 22) Offspinner Gardner enters the bowling for Australia, straight away bringing some turn and putting Murshida and Dilara under some pressure. But then Dilara steps forward and sweeps Gardner for four past deep square leg.
2nd over: Bangladesh 22-0 (Murshida 1, Dilara 18) Perry starts with two wide – this has been an issue all tour. Interestingly Perry didn’t bowl at all in the first T20 but Healy has opted for her this time around. Murshida sneaks a quick single to get off the mark. Dilara keeps on as she started, driving hard through backward point for another boundary. A total of three wides and a boundary is not the greatest start for Perry.
1st over: Bangladesh 14-0 (Murshida 0, Dilara 14) After some technical difficulties I am back.. and Bangladesh are off to a brilliant start! Dilara hits 14 off Schutt’s first over including three fours. Watch out Australia.
Fariha Trisna ends the Aussie innings with a hat-trick! She removes Ellyse Perry, Sophie Molineux and Beth Mooney (batting at No.9!) with consecutive deliveries and Australia finish on 8-161 #BANvAUS
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) April 2, 2024
Australia 161-8
Well a very strong batting innings from Australia suddenly collapsed towards the end there! With the exception of the cheap wickets in the final over I think Healy would be happy with the shake-up in the batting order – Harris and Wareham put on a fantastic partnership, and McGrath and Perry looked good. They got to experiment a little which will put them in good stead for the World Cup and Healy had a nice rest.
Updated
WICKET! Mooney b Trishna (Australia 161-8)
Trishna gets her hat-trick! Well her innings certainly turned around. Mooney swings and misses and the ball clatters into the stumps.
WICKET! Molineux c Murshida b Trishna (Australia 161-7)
Molineux is gone for a duck, caught at backward point, and Trishna is on a hat-trick with one ball remaining.
Updated
WICKET! Perry c Shorna b Trishna (Australia 161-6)
Just as she was looking oh so comfortable, Perry hits straight to the fielder at deep cover.
19th over: Australia 155-5 (Perry 24, Sutherland 1) McGrath starts with a reverse sweep and it’s again misfielded, allowing them to run one. Her innings is cut short by Nahida. Annabel Sutherland comes to the crease and gets off the mark with a drive to long off for a single.
WICKET! McGrath lbw Nahida (Australia 153-5)
Ahh that partnership was looking very solid … McGrath drops the knee to slog sweep and misses the ball which thuds into the pad.
18th over: Australia 151-4 (McGrath 18, Perry 22) Fahima finishes her successful bowling spell with 2-34, best for Bangladesh so far. McGrath and Perry are making sure to take the singles when they can, helped a couple of times by some errors in the field.
17th over: Australia 145-4 (McGrath 16, Perry 18) Not a great ball from Shorifa to start the over and McGrath hits her past fine leg for four. The next five delivers are better, Australia running some singles. I just remembered that Australia still have Healy and Mooney to bat if needed…
16th over: Australia 137-4 (McGrath 10, Perry 16) Another good over from Rabeya and solid fielding to stop a couple of possible boundaries. Until the final ball, Perry hits hard through deep cover for four.
15th over: Australia 129-4 (McGrath 9, Perry 9) Perry skips down the wicket and shows just why she has been around so long for Australia. She drives past deep cover, the ball bouncing just short of the boundary and over. Then it’s McGrath’s turn, stepping on to the back foot and smacking Fahima past deep backward point for her first boundary.
14th over: Australia 118-4 (McGrath 5, Perry 2) That has been a great spell for Bangladesh! After taking the catch of Harris, Rabeya comes into the bowling attack. Despite the quick fall of wickets in the last few overs, Perry and McGrath look confident and comfortable, handling Rabeya’s spin with expertise, although only four from her over so good start.
13th over: Australia 114-4 (McGrath 3, Perry 0) Replacing Gardner at the crease, McGrath starts with a lovely cover drive which is picked up just short of the boundary. No runs off the final ball as Perry steps up.
WICKET! Harris c Rabeya b Fahima (Australia 114-4)
Another wicket for Fahima in this over! Harris sends the ball sky-high and the fielder at deep midwicket has time to get underneath it to take the catch. Harris departs three runs short of her 50.
WICKET! Gardner c&b Fahima (Australia 111-3)
Gardner finds the gap mid-on and gets her first boundary then drives it straight back to Fahima the next ball. The bowler almost drops it but recovers to take the catch.
12th over: Australia 107-2 (Harris 47, Gardner 1) Bangladesh needed that breakthrough from the wicket. Ash Gardner comes to the crease for Australia – she looks uncomfortable with Nahida’s first ball to her but takes a single on the second.
WICKET! Wareham c Mostary b Nahida (Australia 106-2)
Just as I was starting to type that Wareham was heading towards her heighest T20 international score she smacks the ball high and straight to the fielder at deep midwicket.
Updated
11th over: Australia 105-1 (Harris 46, Wareham 57) Some of that over was fans being interviewed in the stands so I missed a few balls. Shorifa is into the attack for Bangladesh. Wareham is not letting up, and Australia roll over the 100-run mark. One boundary from the 11th over – Wareham reserve sweeping past third man.
Ok it was a four. Wareham has rocketed to 50 off 26 balls. At the half-way point in the innings the teams are having a well deserved drinks break in the heat.
That's a 26-ball fifty for Georgia Wareham batting at No.3!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) April 2, 2024
Aussies flying at 1-105 after 11 overs #BANvAUS
Updated
10th over: Australia 94-1 (Harris 42, Wareham 50) On top of all the boundaries the Australians are really working hard between the wickets too, seemingly unfazed by the heat at this point. They are taking quick singles whenever they can and forcing Bangladesh to work a bit harder in the field. Wareham ends the over with a boundary past long-off, takes a little while for the umpires to determine whether it’s a six or four. Either way Wareham gets her 50!
9th over: Australia 84-1 (Harris 41, Wareham 41) Marufa is back into the mix as the Australian batters punish Bangladesh’s bowlers. Her first over went for 12, but she appears to have regrouped and is looking much better. Well that is until Harris drives her beautifully over cover. Wareham steps back and swings hard, edging Marufa past third man for four. They run hard on the final ball and get three – 13 runs off that one.
8th over: Australia 71-1 (Harris 36, Wareham 33) Three fours and a six … Beautiful shot from Harris against legspinner Shorna marks the first six of the match, a slog sweep over deep midwicket. Three back-to-back boundaries for Wareham follow, and their 50-run partnership is suddenly here. Wareham is finding the gaps all over the field. Ending with a single, not a great start for Shorna, who is just 17 years old!
7th over: Australia 51-1 (Harris 29, Wareham 20) Rabeya is into the attack now but the boundaries continue to flow, one each for Harris and Wareham. Harris’s performance appears to be vindicating the decision to bring her up as an opener.
6th over: Australia 40-1 (Harris 23, Wareham 15) A good over for Australia. Harris slogs Nahida’s first ball for four, and Wareham hits the final one down the ground for another four. That’s the power play done.
5th over: Australia 29-1 (Harris 16, Wareham 11) Wareham shuffles across and smacks Trishna’s yorker for four past deep extra cover. Wareham misses the second and looks very anoyed at herself for it, but pulls back and hits the third delivery through deep wicket for another four. They run two to finish the over thanks to a mis-field – not quite as good for Trishna that one.
Updated
4th over: Australia 19-1 (Harris 16, Wareham 0) Nahida comes into the bowling – an experienced bowler for Bangladesh. Wareham gets a single off a shorter ball, hitting to midwicket. Chance for a catch by Fahima running in hard from long-off but she can’t quite get to it in time.
3rd over: Australia 15-0 (Harris 13, Wareham 0) Trishna is bowling well and rewarded with a wicket and maiden over. She’s only a young player and this is her first match of this series, and only her 12th international.
WICKET! Litchfield c Murshida b Trishna (Australia 15-1)
Trishna bowling straight, Litchfield tries to play it over the infield and it just doesn’t get far enough. A good catch from Murshida running backwards and another disappointing innings for Litchfield.
Updated
2nd over: Australia 15-0 (Litchfield 2, Harris 13) A mis-field off Marufa’s first ball results in a boundary for Harris. Marufa is getting the ball moving well but Harris flicks her nicely to the boundary at deep square leg. And another through deep cover follows, fuller ball from Marufa – expensive first over for her!
1st over: Australia 3-0 (Litchfield 2, Harris 1) Australia have changed up their batting order today, dropping Healy and Mooney down and going for a new combo in Litchfield and Harris. The tourists testing a few things out before the World Cup.
Fariha Trishna opens the bowling for Bangladesh with some pace. Harris gets off the mark with a single off the second ball with a bottom edge.
Fariha forces some insecure shuffling from Litchfield, before she gets settled, steps forward and sends it high to deep cover for two runs.
The umpires are walking out to the centre. The commentators say it’s hot and muggy today.
Here’s a few words from Australia’s coach Shelley Nitschke yesterday about how she feels her side has performed so far in Bangladesh.
We’ve had some really challenging conditions, I think some big turning conditions that have challenged our batters and how we adapt. So I’ve been really happy with how we’ve gone about it.
… Moving into the first T20 I thought we’ve got a really good handle on the conditions now and hopefully we can continue to play well throughout.
On the promising return to the squad Molineux and Vlaeminck:
It’s been really pleasing I think for those two individually, both of them spent a lot of time out of this team and away from the game with some injuries and Tay in particular to see her come back yesterday and play like she did, I think there was a few people with a bit of a tear in their eye to see what she’s been through and get her way back to this level.
I think the quicks have been really critical just breaking up the spin attack. I think the spin’s been really effective, the wickets have turned but the quicks have certainly held their own with the new ball and playing a role through the middle as well.
A couple of changes to the lineups. After winning the toss Healy says they don’t want to rush Vlaeminck back into things after being out of international cricket for so long. Schutt is back in.
For Bangladesh Sultana Khatun is out and pace-bowler Fariha Trisna is in. Captain Nigar says it was a good toss to lose and they are very happy to bowl first.
Updated
The teams
Australia XI: Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Ash Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Alyssa Healy (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt.
Bangladesh XI: Dilara Akter, Murshina Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Fahima Khatun, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Shorifa Khatun, Fariha Trisna.
And here’s Vlaeminck reflecting on her return to the national set-up after the first T20.
After a painstaking run of injuries, fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck was stoked to pick up a wicket in her first over in her return game for Australia!@AusWomenCricket | #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/8lpiuxmj1K
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) April 1, 2024
On the weekend Healy showed once again she absolutely can do it all.
The skipper leading from the front with a superb T20 knock! 🔥 #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/FJ88CcEkER
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) March 31, 2024
Updated
Australia win the toss and bat first
Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney made light work of the chase in the first T20, hitting 127 with seven overs to spare. With the captain choosing to bat first this time and set the target we may yet see full overs played.
On Sunday, the first T20 of this three-match series saw Australia continue their trend of complete and utter domination from the one-day internationals earlier in the month.
Tayla Vlaeminck celebrated her return to international cricket by taking with a wicket with her fourth ball, as Australia thrashed Bangladesh in their series-opening Twenty20 international.
Preamble
Good day to all! This is our live, over-by-over blog of the second Twenty20 women’s international between Australia and Bangladesh. It’s technically match No 5 of this multi-format tour in Dhaka, Australia having taken a clean sweep of the three ODI’s in March with ease.
The first T20 over the weekend saw the triumphant return of quick Tayla Vlaeminck to the Australian side for the first time since 2022 after an awful run of injuries. The Victorian took just four balls to underline her name on the team list – clean-bowling Sobhana Mostary. The tour is great preparation for the World Cup in Bangladesh later this year, with returnees Vlaeminck and Sophie Molineux making strong cases for their selection.
Play starts at 5pm AEDT, 12pm at the Sher-e Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Team news and the toss will be up soon, it looks like it’s a hot and hazy day in Dhaka.
I’m Jo Khan, feel free to get in touch by emailing me at jo.khan@theguardian.com or on X @_jokhan.
