Cooper Connolly's 149 helps Australia avoid series whitewash against Bangladesh

Cooper Connolly's maiden ODI hundred helped Australia avoid a series whitewash by Bangladesh as they overcame the hosts by one wicket in a nervous finish in the third ODI in Dhaka.

Bangladesh recovered from an underwhelming start to post 274 for 5 after choosing to bat, with Towhid Hridoy's 83, Litton Das' patient 58 not out and an unbeaten 56 from Mosaddek Hossain leading the revival. Connolly then anchored Australia's chase with a career-best 149, surviving a late collapse and a spirited six-wicket haul from Shoriful Islam as the visitors sealed victory with three balls to spare.

Australia began brightly in pursuit of 275, with Josh Inglis setting the tone through an aggressive 21 off 12 balls as the visitors raced to 40 without loss in under five overs. But Bangladesh hit back immediately through Shoriful Islam, who removed Inglis with a leg-side trap before bowling Matt Renshaw in the same over. Taskin Ahmed bagged Alex Carey's wicket, thanks to a stunning catch by Soumya Sarkar at cover, reducing Australia to 71 for 3. Through the collapse, Cooper Connolly remained composed, finding boundaries regularly.

Connolly and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the chase with a 64-run stand for the fourth wicket, carefully negotiating Bangladesh's spin attack. Labuschagne's patient 29 ended when Shoriful found an edge through to substitute keeper Nurul Hasan, but Connolly continued unfazed. Cameron Green provided useful support with 27 in a 58-run stand with Connolly before falling to Mahedi. Connolly reached his maiden ODI century, off 87 deliveries, despite battling cramps in the Dhaka heat.

Bangladesh, however, refused to go down without a fight. Shoriful completed his maiden ODI five-for when he dismissed Oliver Peake and Xavier Bartlett in successive deliveries, and later finished with career-best figures of 6 for 48 after removing Ben Dwarshuis and forcing further panic in the chase. Mustafizur Rahman added to the drama by bowling Connolly in the 49th over as Australia slipped from 266 for 5 to 271 for 9. But with two runs needed off the final over, Adam Zampa drove Taskin through the covers to complete a tense win and deny Bangladesh a series sweep.

Australia struck early when Xavier Bartlett removed opener Parvez Hossain Emon cheaply, and despite a brief counterattack from Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who struck a six and two fours in his 19-ball 20, Bangladesh slipped to 53 for 2 at the end of the batting Powerplay when Matt Renshaw induced a miscue to mid-on. Renshaw dealt another blow, bowling Najmul Hossain Shanto for 24 to leave the hosts in trouble at 62 for 3 in the 15th over.

Litton Das and Hridoy then steadied the innings with a measured partnership. Australia's spinners Adam Zampa and Renshaw kept the scoring in check through the middle overs, but the pair rotated strike while punishing loose deliveries. Litton gradually found his rhythm, striking a six and a four off Riley Meredith, even as he battled discomfort in his calf. Hridoy grew increasingly fluent, bringing up his half-century as Bangladesh crossed 190 in the 39th over.

The momentum shifted in the final ten overs as Hridoy and Mosaddek accelerated with a stand worth 90. Hridoy struck eight fours in his 88-ball knock before holing out to deep midwicket in the 46th over. Mosaddek reached a 43-ball half-century while Litton, who had briefly retired hurt due to cramp, returned in the closing stages to bring up a fifty off 75 balls. Australia kept chipping away late through Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis, but Bangladesh's middle order ensured they finished with a competitive total.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 274/5 in 50 overs (Towhid Hridoy 83, Litton Das 58*, Mosaddek Hossain 56*; Matt Renshaw 2-44) lost to Australia 277/9 in 49.3 overs (Cooper Connolly 149, Marnus Labuschagne 29; Shoriful Islam 6-48) by 1 wicket.