Emerging star Cooper Connolly battled through cramps that sent his body into shock as he smashed a magnificent maiden international century to steer Australia to a gripping one-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the third and final ODI.
Connolly hammered 149 off 133 deliveries — tying for the 27th highest score by an Australian in ODIs — at a hot and humid Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday. The tourists edged past Bangladesh's total of 5-274 with just three balls to spare, thus avoiding a 3-0 series whitewash.
Connolly, whose previous best was 61 not out in ODIs and 64 in all List-A games, struck 13 fours and six sixes. The next highest Australian score was Marnus Labuschagne's 29.
Connolly Reflects on Tough Battle
"Tough towards the end," he admitted. "I felt like my body was all in shock and not wanting to move. But it was nice to play a role in a win for Australia."
"The enjoyment of playing for Australia and batting out in the middle is always something that's exciting and to spend a bit of time out there was nice."
After cruising at 5-266, the Australians suffered a dramatic collapse, losing 4-5 to crash to 9-271. Adam Zampa then sealed the win by driving Taskin Ahmed through the covers for four.
Recalled left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam (6-48) was the chief destroyer for Bangladesh and could have been the match-winner — and had seven wickets — had Tanzid Hasan not dropped Zampa at wide slip.
Connolly watched the carnage from the other end before departing in the 49th over, the ninth wicket to fall, with four runs required, playing on to Mustafizur Rahman.
"I was obviously a little disappointed in myself because I'd done all the hard work to get to that position," he said.
"It would have been nice to carry your bat through the whole innings."
"I think there's always faith in whoever's out there — whether it's No.10 and 11 — I'm always willing to back them in."
"The emotions were (I was) quite upset and disappointed in myself, but it was nice to get over the line."
Aggressive Approach Pays Off
Connolly and stand-in captain Josh Inglis set the tempo for the Australians' chase by attacking Bangladesh's new-ball bowlers.
That swashbuckling approach has served Connolly well across all formats in his still young career.
"Looking into it, ODI cricket is quite similar to how I play my red-ball cricket," he said.
"I like to be aggressive and I like to score."
"That's the whole point of batting in the powerplay — you want to be aggressive and put guys under pressure."
