Bangladesh made a steady start after electing to bat first against Australia in the third and final One-Day International of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday. Stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to set a target as the hosts sought a historic series clean sweep against the visitors after already securing an unassailable 2-0 lead.

The series has been one-sided in Bangladesh's favour so far. The hosts registered an emphatic 86-run victory in the opening ODI before following it up with another convincing win in a rain-affected second match. Australia endured a disastrous start in that contest, slipping to 0/3 before recovering to post 187/8 in a reduced 42-over game. Bangladesh comfortably chased down the target with five wickets in hand to clinch the series.

At the time of reporting, Bangladesh were 17/1 after 4.3 overs. Shanto remained at the crease on eight runs, while opener Tanzid Hasan was battling through a cautious start. Australia found early success through fast bowler Xavier Bartlett, who struck with the new ball and maintained pressure with disciplined bowling during his opening spell.

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Australia's pace attack, led by Bartlett and Riley Meredith, generated movement and bounce from the surface in the early overs. Meredith consistently troubled the Bangladesh batters with hard-length deliveries, while Bartlett kept the scoring rate under control. Despite the early wicket, Bangladesh managed to avoid further damage and focused on rebuilding the innings.

The visitors entered the match determined to avoid a whitewash and salvage some pride after a disappointing series. Led by wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, Australia have struggled to match Bangladesh's consistency throughout the tour. A victory in the final ODI would at least provide a positive conclusion to an otherwise difficult campaign for the former world champions.

For Bangladesh, the match presents an opportunity to complete one of the most significant bilateral ODI series victories in their history. A win would mark a memorable clean sweep over Australia and further underline the team's growing strength in home conditions. With confidence high and momentum firmly on their side, the hosts will be aiming to maintain their dominance and finish the series on a perfect note.

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