DHAKA, April 11: Opener Shane Watson hammered a record-breaking 185 to help Australia outclass Bangladesh by nine wickets in their second One-day International and secure victory in the three-match series here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.
Watson’s unbeaten innings came off only 96 balls, including 15 boundaries and as many as sixes, steering Australia to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The next match is on Wednesday, with Australia having won the series opener by 60 runs on Saturday.
Watson broke the world record for most sixes in an ODI innings, set at 12 by West Indies’ Xavier Marshall against Canada in 2008 and also put an end to Matthew Hayden’s record of 181 as the highest ODI score by an Australian, set against New Zealand in 2007.
Chasing Bangladesh’s 229-7, Watson and former skipper Ricky Ponting took Australia to 232-1 in just 26 overs to secure victory. The duo enjoyed a second-wicket partnership of 170 runs.
Watson looked in ominous touch from the start, hitting paceman Shafiul Islam for three boundaries in the first over, before striking Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan for a six in the third over.
He was particularly harsh on left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo, striking him for four sixes off consecutive deliveries in the 22nd over shortly after he had been dropped twice.
Watson’s quickfire 100 came from only 69 balls with 11 boundaries and six sixes. And the superb shots didn’t stop there.
Watson completed his century in just 69 balls, which included 11 boundaries and six sixes, with a boundary through extra cover off Shafiul and was dropped by Abdur Razzak off the next ball at long-on.
Two overs later, left-arm spinner Razzak was unlucky not to get his wicket when Raqibul Hasan dropped a simple catch at deep mid-wicket with the batsman on 114.
Watson never looked back and added 85 runs off only 27 balls after completing his sixth ODI century.
“It was one of those days when everything you do comes out of the middle of the bat and goes into the gap,” Watson said. “At one point I was pretty tired and it was humid out there, so I didn’t really want to run too much.
“There was a nice little over and I got a few in the middle that saved my running.”
Bangladesh used six bowlers but Shakib was the only man to take a wicket, having Brad Haddin (8) caught by Mahmudullah. Ponting was unbeaten on 37.
Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shahriar Nafees had both scored half centuries for Bangladesh.
Rahim led the scoring with an unbeaten 81 from 80 balls, containing nine boundaries and a six, after going to the crease with Bangladesh in serious trouble at 65-4 after winning the toss and deciding to bat. Nafees contributed 56 from 73 balls before he was caught and bowled by Steve Smith.
Mitchell Johnson took 3-54 to lead the Australian attack, with Smith claiming 2-34 as Bangladesh’s openers were dismissed cheaply.
Tamim Iqbal (5) was caught at slip by Watson off Johnson and the same pair combined to remove Imrul Kayes (5). Johnson also removed Shuvo (16), caught by Smith.
Rahim and Mahmudullah steadied the Bangladesh innings by adding 79 runs for the sixth wicket before Mahmuduallah was trapped lbw by Watson for 38.
The series is the first for both countries since their disappointing World Cup campaigns.
Co-hosts Bangladesh, which lost to the West Indies and South Africa, failed to survive the group stage. Australia, winners of the three previous editions, crashed out in the quarter-final losing to India in Ahmedabad.
Ponting resigned as Test and ODI skipper following the World Cup, but agreed to continue to playing under new captain Michael Clarke.
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH:
| Sr. | Player Name | Bowler Name | Runs |
| 1 | Tamim Iqbal c Watson | Johnson | 5 |
| 2 | Imrul Kayes c Watson | Johnson | 5 |
| 3 | Shahriar Nafees c Smith | Smith | 56 |
| 4 | Raqibul Hasan | Hastings | 0 |
| 5 | Shakib Al Hasan | Smith | 9 |
| 6 | Mushfiqur Rahim (not out) | 81 | |
| 7 | Mahmudullah lbw | Watson | 38 |
| 8 | Suhrawadi Shuvo c Smith | Johnson | 16 |
| 9 | Shafiul Islam (not out) | 9 |
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, NB-2, W-3) 10
TOTAL (for seven wkts; 50 overs) 229
FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-27, 3-28, 4-65, 5-88, 6-167, 7-195.
DID NOT BAT: Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain.
BOWLING: B. Lee 10-2-37-0 (1nb); M. Johnson 10-0-54-3 (1nb, 2w); J. Hastings 6-0-20-1; S. Watson 7-0-35-1; S. Smith 7-0-34-2 (1w); X. Doherty 10-0-44-0.
AUSTRALIA:
| Sr. | Player Name | Bowler Name | Runs |
| 1 | S. Watson (not out) | 185 | |
| 2 | B. Haddin c Mahmudullah | Shakib | 8 |
| 3 | R. Ponting (not out) | 37 |
EXTRAS (W-1, NB-1) 2
TOTAL (for one wkt, 26 overs) 232
FALL OF WKT: 1-62.
DID NOT BAT: M. Clarke, C. Ferguson, M. Hussey, S. Smith, M. Johnson, J. Hastings, B. Lee, X. Doherty.
BOWLING: Shafiul Islam 2-0-27-0 (1w); Abdur Razzak 7-0-58-0; Shakib Al Hasan 7-1-35-1l; Rubel Hossain 6-0-57-0 (1nb); Suhrawadi Shuvo 3-0-46-0; Mahmudullah 1-0-9-0.
RESULT: Australia beat Bangladesh by nine wickets.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shane Watson (Australia).
SERIES: Australia won the three-match series 2-0.
FIRST MATCH: Australia beat Bangladesh by 60 runs.
