SPORTS REPORTER

The chase was on, but Bangladesh fell short by seven runs in the second T20I in Chattogram yesterday as Australia clinched the series 2-0 with a match to go.

Given the conditions, it was a good litmus test for the Tigers in the shortest format, especially chasing against a big side.

In pursuit of Australia’s 195 for six, Bangladesh produced a strong display in the Powerplay, scoring 72 and had the ammunitions to gun down the total. However, momentum slipped from a favourable position, leading to a narrow loss.

Tanzid Tamim and Saif Hassan went into the attack right away in chase to take Bangladesh to 33 for naught in two overs, before the former’s soft dismissal after a 15-ball 30 posed the first signs of trouble. Then arrived Soumya Sarkar, and despite looking good the southpaw once again fell trying to clear the long-on boundary off Adam Zampa after a nine-ball 15.

Parvez Hossain Emon at two-down attacked the Australia spinners, hitting back-to-back sixes off Zampa as the hosts stayed in the chase. The Emon-Saif duo added 53 from 36 deliveries before Australia fought back. Emon, attempting to take on Aaron Hardie, mistimed his shot in the 13th over as Mitchell Marsh ran back for a brilliant catch.

The Australia skipper’s celebration showed the importance of the wicket. Next over, Saif, after playing second fiddle, fell to an awkward shot, holing out at cover chasing a wide delivery after a 33-ball 42.

Needing 67 from 44, momentum was lost with two new batters coming in. Matt Renshaw who batted Australia out of trouble with 52-ball 89, showed what Tigers lacked in their innings.

Before the series, Bangladesh have been undergoing an upsurge in T20Is, losing just one of their last seven series and drawing another. A few nuances can set them into the right track.

Between overs 13 to 17, Bangladesh added just 25 runs, losing three wickets as Shamim Hossain too departed trying to accelerate.

Tawhid Hridoy, meanwhile, was off to a somewhat slow start with wickets falling around him, but he could not quite match the required acceleration alongside Abdul Gaffar Saqlain -- playing just his second international game.

Needing 23 off the last over, they fell short with Hridoy falling off the last delivery after a 22-ball 35.

Emon said Bangladesh “were on track until Saif’s wicket shifted momentum”, while Hridoy noted that “set batters need to carry on deeper” to finish chases.

“We played really good cricket, but there are a couple of areas we need to develop,” Hridoy added at the post-match presentation, but recognised that they have “to chase down in this kind of match” as the Tigers look to continue improvement curve.