Bangladesh regained control of the second ODI against Australia before rain stopped play at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Australia reached 187 for 8 in 42 overs after recovering from a disastrous start and then losing two wickets in successive deliveries from Taskin Ahmed.
The visitors suffered one of the worst starts in their ODI history. Taskin bowled Matthew Short in the opening over before Mustafizur Rahman removed Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw in the next over. Australia slipped to 3 for 0 in two overs and later fell to 37 for 4 inside the first 10 overs.
Josh Inglis tried to rebuild with 34 from 38 balls, while Alex Carey added 13. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam then struck twice. He dismissed Inglis and Cameron Green to leave Australia struggling at 81 for 6 in the 22nd over.
Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett launched the recovery. The pair added 103 runs for the seventh wicket and steadied the innings after the early collapse. Bartlett attacked from the start and reached his maiden ODI fifty from 48 balls. Labuschagne anchored the partnership and brought up his half-century from 85 deliveries.
Australia looked set for a strong finish at 184 for 6 in the 41st over. Taskin changed the momentum again. He bowled Bartlett for 52 with an inswinger and then dismissed Adam Zampa with the next ball to reduce Australia to 184 for 8.
Rain arrived shortly after the double strike and forced the players off the field. At the stoppage, Labuschagne remained unbeaten on 55, while Nathan Ellis stood on 2.
Bangladesh entered the match with a 1-0 lead after their 86-run DLS victory in the series opener. A win in Mirpur would secure their first-ever ODI series victory over Australia.
