CONNOLLY HITS MAIDEN TON AS AUSTRALIA EDGE BANGLADESH BY ONE WICKET

Cooper Connolly scored 149 off 133 balls to guide Australia to a one-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the third ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Australia reached 9-277 in pursuit of Bangladesh's 5-274, securing the win with three deliveries remaining. Adam Zampa hit the winning boundary through the covers as Australia avoided a series whitewash, winning the three-match series 2-1.

Connolly's innings featured 13 fours and six sixes, with his century arriving off 87 deliveries. His previous highest score in one-day internationals was 61 not out. Australia's chase appeared in jeopardy when the side collapsed from 5-266 to 9-271, losing four wickets for five runs. Marnus Labuschagne (29), Cameron Green (27) and Oliver Peake (27) each contributed valuable partnerships with Connolly during the innings.

Bangladesh's left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam took 6-48 and nearly proved decisive for the hosts. A dropped catch at wide slip by Tanzid Hasan of Zampa proved costly, as the bowler would have finished with seven wickets. Earlier, Bangladesh accumulated 5-274 through half-centuries from Towhid Hridoy (83), Litton Das (58 not out) and Mosaddek Hossain (56 not out). Xavier Bartlett took 2-47 for Australia in the Bangladesh innings.