Sports Desk:

Bangladesh made new a history as they sealed a maiden T20 series against Australia by beating the visitors in the third T20 international of the five-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Friday.

Pacer Mustafizur Rahman set up the victory for Bangladesh as he conceded only nine runs off his four overs to help Bangladesh restrict Australia to 117-4 after skipper Mahmudullah made a dogged 52 off 53 balls to guide the hosts to 127-9 in 20 overs.

Mustafizur conceded only one run in the 19th over of Australia innings to make the equation in Bangladesh’s favour — 22 runs off the last over — in a match that started one hour and fifteen minutes later due to rain.

Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan, who came to ball the last over, was struck for a six in the first ball of the final over by Alex Carey (20 not out).

However, Mahedi kept his calm and conceded only five runs in the next five deliveries to confirm Bangladesh’s first-ever series victory over the Aussies in any format.

Australia earlier got control in the match after Mitchell Marsh made 51 off 47 balls while Ben McDermott scored 35 runs that took the visitors to 94-3 in the 17th over.

Pacer Shoriful Islam (2-29) took the wicket of Marsh in the first ball of the 18th over to bring Bangladesh back in the match while the other bowlers also played their part to complete a nail-biting win over the visitors.

Bangladesh openers’ misery in the series continued in the match as both Mohammad Naim (one) and Soumya Sarkar (two) got out within the third over of their innings after Mahmudullah won the toss and elected to bat first.

Shakib and Mahmudullah repaired the early damage by putting up a 44-run stand for the third wicket before the former became Adam Zampa’s second victim in the match.

Afif Hossain, who made two crucial knocks of 37 not out and 23 runs respectively in the first two games, looked to be in form on Friday as well as he struck Ashton Agar and Nathan Eliss for a six and a four respectively and took the run-rate over six.

However, he was run out on 19 after a direct throw from Carey broke the stumps at the bowler’s end.

Shamim Hossain couldn’t do much with the bat as he departed for three, leaving Bangladesh at 81-5 in the 14th over.

Nurul Hasan (11) struck Zampa at the long-on area after coming to bat but he suffered the same consequences of Afif as he was run out by a direct throw of Moises Henriques.

Despite the loss of wickets from the other hand, Mahmudullah anchored the innings well and completed his fifth fifty in the final over of the Bangladesh innings.

Debutant Eliss, who conceded 34 runs in 3.3 over, got rid of Mahmudullah, Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan in the final three deliveries of the innings to become the first cricketer to take a hat-trick in his debut T20I match.

The fourth match of the series will take place today at the same venue.