The opening encounter of the Bangladesh Women tour of Australia 2026 at Brisbane turned into a masterclass of clinical execution by the host side. Electing to bowl first, Australia Women set the tone from the very first delivery of the match.
Megan Schutt made an immediate impact by removing opener Fargana Hoque for a golden duck (0 off 1) on the first ball of the innings, caught by Phoebe Litchfield. Schutt kept up the relentless pressure in her opening spell, trapping Sarmin Sultana lbw for just 4 runs off 7 balls, reducing the visitors to 11/2 by the third over. Sharmin Akhter attempted to counter-attack with a brisk 24 off 26 balls (5 fours) before falling to Annabel Sutherland, caught by Alana King at 33/3.
As the top order faltered, skipper Nigar Sultana anchored one end, grinding out a patient 29 off 86 balls. However, partners continued to fall around her. Sobhana Mostary managed just 2 off 17 deliveries before being caught behind by Beth Mooney off Sutherland’s bowling at 48/4. Sultana then put together a 35-run stand with Shorna Akter before Tahlia McGrath broke through, getting Sultana caught by Mooney to leave Bangladesh at 83/5. Shorna Akter held the fort for a brief duration, compiling 21 off 50 balls before Georgia Wareham had her trapped leg-before at 103/6.
The visitors found late resistance through a fighting effort from Ritu Moni, who top-scored for Bangladesh Women with 45 off 63 balls, striking 5 boundaries. Moni built key lower-order partnerships, working alongside Rabeya Khan (11 off 13) and Nahida Akter, who remained unbeaten on 19 off 32 balls. Sutherland continued to wreck the lower order, dismissing Rabeya Khan at 122/7. Moni’s resilient stay ended via a run-out executed by Kim Garth and Sutherland at 159/8. Ashleigh Gardner then dismissed Habiba Islam for 1 off 3 balls, caught by Ellyse Perry, before Sutherland sealed the innings by getting Marufa Akter caught by Perry for a duck. Bangladesh Women were bowled out for 166 in 49.4 overs.
Among the Australian bowling unit, Annabel Sutherland was the star performer, taking 4 for 30 in 9.4 overs. Megan Schutt delivered an economical spell of 2 for 19 in her 10 overs, including 4 maidens. Tahlia McGrath (1/9 in 3 overs), Georgia Wareham (1/17 in 4 overs), and Ashleigh Gardner (1/30 in 7 overs) provided tight support, while Kim Garth (0/33 in 8 overs) and Alana King (0/25 in 8 overs) applied continuous pressure to keep the total in check.
Chasing a modest target of 167 runs, the contest tilted heavily in favor of the hosts right from the powerplay. Australian openers Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield provided a rapid launch, posting a 30-run opening partnership inside six overs. Voll struck a breezy 19 off 18 balls with 3 fours before Habiba Islam produced the breakthrough, getting her caught by Sharmin Akhter at 30/1.
Phoebe Litchfield then took complete control of the chase, putting on a dominant 89-run second-wicket partnership alongside Ellyse Perry. Litchfield played a stunning, aggressive knock, blazing 77 off 57 balls featuring 10 fours and a six at a strike rate of 135.08 before falling to Rabeya Khan, caught by Ritu Moni at 119/2. Beth Mooney joined Perry and contributed a quick 13 off 12 balls (2 fours) before being dismissed by Habiba Islam, caught by Fargana Hoque at 134/3. With just 33 runs needed, Annabel Sutherland walked in to complete a dominant all-round performance, smashing an unbeaten 25 off 23 balls (2 fours).
She paired up with Ellyse Perry, who played a calm, stabilizing role with 26* off 45 balls (2 fours). Together, they steered Australia Women across the finish line in just 25.4 overs, reaching 168/3 to seal a comfortable 7-wicket win with 146 balls remaining. In the bowling department for Bangladesh Women, Habiba Islam was the standout bowler, picking up 2 for 36 in her 6 overs. Rabeya Khan was disciplined, taking 1 for 32 in 7 overs. However, the remaining bowlers struggled to contain the run rate, with Marufa Akter (0/35 in 4 overs), Nahida Akter (0/29 in 4.4 overs), and Ritu Moni (0/36 in 4 overs) unable to break through the settled Australian batting order.
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