BRISBANE — Sobhana Mostary wrote her name into the history books on Australian soil with a magnificent maiden One Day International century, yet her landmark achievement was ultimately overshadowed as a dominant Australia swept to a comfortable nine-wicket victory in Brisbane.
Electing to bowl after winning the toss, Australia caught Bangladesh cold during a disastrous opening spell. The visitors found themselves reeling at 8 for 3 within 7.2 overs, suffering an all-too-familiar top-order collapse following their modest 153-run total in the previous fixture. The early damage included opener Fargana Hoque departing for a duck—her 12th in ODI cricket, which set a new record for Bangladesh Women by surpassing teammate Nahida Akter’s tally of 11 dismissals without scoring.
Faced with impending ruin, Sobhana joined captain Nigar Sultana in a resolute rescue operation. Absorbing intense pressure from the world’s top-ranked bowling attack, the pair systematically rebuilt the innings with a monumental fourth-wicket partnership. Sobhana brought up a brisk half-century off 66 deliveries before accelerating towards three figures, while Nigar played an anchor role, reaching her fifty in 97 balls.
History was made when Sobhana tucked a delivery from Annabel Sutherland for a single to complete a breathtaking hundred. In doing so, she became the first Bangladeshi woman to score an ODI century against Australia, and only the second Bangladeshi batter across both men’s and women’s international cricket to score a century on Australian soil—joining Tanzid Hasan, who achieved the feat in a Test match at Darwin in August. Furthermore, Sobhana became one of only eight women in international cricket history to register an ODI century against Australia in their own backyard, a elite list led by India’s Smriti Mandhana with two.
Sobhana was eventually bowled by Megan Schutt for a stellar 118 off 134 balls, an effort featuring sharp footwork and composed strokeplay. Nigar remained unbeaten on 74 from 114 deliveries as Bangladesh reached 220 for 6 in their allotted 50 overs—marking the very first time Bangladesh Women have passed the 200-run milestone against Australia in seven ODI attempts.
However, a target of 221 proved trivial for the powerhouse hosts. Australian openers Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield mounted an explosive assault from the outset, dismantling the target with clinical precision. The duo forged a sparkling 162-run opening stand off just 119 deliveries, putting the result beyond doubt well before the midway mark of the innings.
Although Shorna Akter picked up a consolation breakthrough when Litchfield was caught by Habiba Akter for a fiery 51-ball 70, Voll remained completely untamed. Racing through her shots with supreme authority, Voll smashed 19 boundaries to finish undefeated on 131 off 97 balls, guiding Australia across the finish line in a mere 28.1 overs.
