Tigers fall seven runs short in thriller

A valiant effort from stand-in skipper Towhid Hridoy in the dying overs was not enough for Bangladesh to chase down the record 197-run target set by Australia in the second T20I at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Friday, report agencies.
Hridoy scored a brave 35 off 22 deliveries, including three boundaries and two sixes, but fell just short in the final over.
Facing Aaron Hardie, Hridoy smashed a massive hit over cover off the fourth delivery and edged the fifth to the boundary. However, Bangladesh still needed eight runs off the final ball. A fuller delivery from Hardie was hoisted across the line, only for Joel Davies to complete the catch and end the innings. Bangladesh finished on 189/6 in their 20 overs, seven runs short of Australia's imposing total of 196.
The hosts showed intent from the start. Tanzid Hasan struck four fours and a six in a 15-ball 30, while opening partner Saif Hassan played a steadier knock of 42 from 33 deliveries. Parvez Hossain Emon added a quickfire 36, smashing three sixes and two fours. Australia's bowlers, however, kept chipping away at regular intervals, with Aaron Hardie leading the attack with figures of 2/40.
In the end, the visitors' towering total proved just beyond Bangladesh's reach.
The day had begun optimistically for the Tigers after Australia won the toss and elected to bat first, only to lose three early wickets. But Matt Renshaw and Tim David turned the game around with a brutal fifth-wicket partnership worth 97 runs off just 50 balls.
Renshaw was the chief architect of the recovery, although Bangladesh handed him two lifelines off Nahid Rana's bowling.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh posted 72/1 in the first six overs, their highest powerplay score against Australia in T20 Internationals.
The powerplay burst came in the second T20I of the three-match series.
However, despite the whirlwind start, Bangladesh could not surpass their highest-ever powerplay score of 81 without loss, achieved against Ireland at the same venue in 2023.