Renshaw, David help Australia seal series with narrow win

Matt Renshaw's unbeaten 89 and Tim David's 26-ball 45 powered Australia to 196 for 5 before their bowlers held their nerve to beat Bangladesh by seven runs in the second T20I in Chattogram. Bangladesh threatened to pull off the chase after racing to 103 for 2 at the halfway mark, but Australia closed out the game to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Bangladesh made an ideal start after opting to bowl, reducing Australia to 44 for 3 inside the Powerplay. Nasum Ahmed struck by trapping Josh Inglis LBW, while Nahid Rana accounted for Cooper Connolly. Mitchell Marsh fell to Mustafizur Rahman for 20 off the last ball of the Powerplay.

The innings gained momentum through a counterattacking partnership between Tim David and Matt Renshaw. David took on Bangladesh's pace, pulling Nahid for a six before unleashing against Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, whose second over cost 19 runs. Renshaw settled in before joining the assault, particularly against the spinners. The pair added a 97-run stand in 50 balls, taking Australia past 100 in the 12th over.

Renshaw smashed three consecutive sixes off Rishad Hossain to bring up his fifty in 29 balls. Saqlain eventually broke the partnership by dismissing David, while Nasum Ahmed later trapped Nikhil Chaudhary LBW. Renshaw remained in control and received support from Joel Davies in an unbeaten 42-run stand, including two sixes off Mustafizur in the last over.

The Bangladesh openers began positively in the chase, adding 48 inside the first four overs. Renshaw's off spin did the trick as Tanzid Hasan Tamim handed a catch back to the bowler for a 15-ball 30. Bangladesh ended the Powerplay strongly at 72 for 1.

Adam Zampa ended Soumya Sarkar's stay, but Parvez Hossain Emon struck two successive sixes off the legspinner as Bangladesh moved past 100 in the 10th over. However, Australia bounced back with quick wickets as the set pair departed in successive overs, with Bangladesh slipping to 134 for 4 in the 14th over.

Bangladesh needed 54 off the last five overs. Ellis bowled an excellent 17th over, conceding only two runs, leaving 42 needed off the last three overs. Zampa gave away only eight runs in the 18th over. It came down to 23 in the final over, and despite a six from Towhid Hridoy, Bangladesh fell short as Hridoy could only manage a four off the last delivery.

Brief scores: Australia 196/5 in 20 overs (Matt Renshaw 89* off 52, Tim David 45 off 26; Nasum Ahmed 2-27) beat Bangladesh 189/6 in 20 overs (Saif Hassan 42 off 33, Parvez Hossain Emon 36 off 22; Aaron Hardie 2-40) by 7 runs.