Australia has beaten Bangladesh in the opening match of a six-game white-ball tour, winning by 118 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. 

The tourists scored 7-213 off their 50 overs, before the Tigresses were bowled out for 95 on the last ball of the 36th over.

Australia was slow starting on a difficult pitch, slumping to 4-48 in the 19th over, with Sultana Khatun dismissing Phoebe Litchfield (0) and Ellyse Perry (2).

Beth Mooney (25) and Ash Gardner (32) slowly advanced the total, but it was when Annabel Sutherland came to the crease that the tourists began to change the momentum.

Sutherland hit an unbeaten 58 off 76 balls, and when she was joined by King things really took off.

The last over of the innings was delivered by legbreak bowler Fatima Khatun.

The Australians were on 184 — but then King chimed in.

After being brought on strike by a first-ball single, the all-rounder targeted Khatun, and aimed for the legside boundary.

A big six was followed by a second clearance of the rope. The Bangladesh fielders were under pressure, and another leg-side shot flew across the outfield for a four with neither able to cut it off.

This brought up the 200, and King wasn't finished, smashing two more sixes on the final two balls, to finish on 46 not out off 31 balls.

The Australians set a target of 214 for Bangladesh and the chase began poorly when Fargana Hoque (0) was caught behind off Megan Schutt on the second ball of the innings.

The Bangladesh side contributed to their downfall, with three of the top five in the order dismissed by run outs. Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary put together a 49-run partnership before Mostary was clean bowled by King for 17.

That triggered a collapse, as the home side lost 8-25. Gardner took the final two wickets in three balls to complete the win.

The second game in the three-match series will be held on Sunday afternoon.

Source: ABC News

BDST: 1656 HRS, MAR 21, 2024
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