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Cooper Connolly joins elite list: The Bangladesh vs Australia three-match ODI series came to an end on Sunday. Home side, Bangladesh won the series 2-1, marking their first victory over the Australia National Cricket Team in their cricketing history. This is a great achievement for Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s side. However, they would be upset at not clean sweeping the Kangaroos despite having the chances.
In the third and final ODI, Australia won the game by one wicket, as Cooper Connolly played a brilliant knock of 149 runs off 134 deliveries, smashing 13 fours and 6 sixes in his amazing innings. He single-handedly won the game for the Aussies, as when he got out, Australia needed 3 runs off 6 balls, and Adam Zampa struck a four off the third ball of the last over.
Cooper Connolly enters elite list
After Cooper Connolly’s sensational knock, he joined an elite list of Australian cricketers featuring two former World Cup-winning stars, Ricky Ponting and Steve Smith. He became the third youngest Australian cricketer to score a century in ODIs after Ponting and Smith. This is a historic moment for the young Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter.
Cooper Connolly achieved the milestone in the final ODI at the age of 22 years and 296 days. Ponting scored in 21 years, 21 days, followed by Smith, who did so at 21 years 118 days. The Southpaw was awarded as the Player of the Match for his excellent innings.
It's quite nice - Cooper Connolly
After winning the POTM, Cooper Connolly stated that he was nervous after being out on 149 runs, as only a wicket was left, but he was confident enough that Adam Zampa and Riley Meredith would take the team over the line. He also expressed his feelings about opening the batting in place of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, who missed the series due to injury and workload management, respectively.
"Yeah, it's quite nice to get over the line there. I was a little bit nervous, was backing Zampa and and Riley to get us over the line, but yeah, it's nice to have a win. (You seem to enjoy your role as an opener with that kind of innings that you did?) Yeah, it's definitely satisfying, but obviously there's two world-class players at the top in Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh."
"Unfortunately, they weren't available. But yeah, it was nice to get the opportunity at the top and make the most of it. But yeah, I just like to keep my options open. (Was that planned to go and attack and take them off to the line and length earlier on?) No, not necessarily. I think it's just the way myself and Josh play. We like to be aggressive."
Australia get over the line
Coming to the match won the toss and opted to bat first, and yet again it was the middle order of the home side who put the runs, Towhid Hridoy scoring 83 runs and Mosaddek Hossain scoring 56 runs as they posted 274/5.
While chasing, Australia had a small collapse, losing three wickets in the span of 30 runs, but small contributions from the middle order helped them win the match thrillingly.
