Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first in the third and final T20I against Australia at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on June 21, 2026. With Australia already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead, the hosts are fighting to salvage pride and avoid a clean sweep on home soil.
Australia Dominate Series After ODI Loss
Australia responded strongly after losing the ODI series earlier in the tour, securing the T20I series with victories by four wickets and seven runs in the first two matches. The visitors have consistently outperformed Bangladesh in key moments, showcasing greater depth with both bat and ball.
For Bangladesh, the biggest concern has been their inability to convert promising starts into substantial totals. Saif Hassan's 42 in the second T20I remains the hosts' highest individual score of the series, highlighting the batting unit's struggles. In contrast, three Australian batters have already surpassed that mark, underlining the gap between the two sides.
Pitch and Conditions in Chattogram
The Chattogram surface has produced varying challenges throughout the series. While the opening match offered significant assistance to spinners, the second game provided more pace and variable bounce before settling into a better batting wicket. The pitch for the final T20I is expected to favour batters, although spinners could still play a crucial role during the middle overs.
Weather could also have an impact, with intermittent cloud cover and the possibility of early moisture due to overnight rain. However, conditions are expected to improve as the match progresses.
Playing XIs and Toss Update
Bangladesh captain Towhid Hridoy said at the toss that the pitch appears dry and well-used, making batting the preferred option. He emphasized the importance of the match and expressed confidence in his side's ability to post a strong total and finish the series on a high note. He confirmed that Bangladesh have made a few changes to their playing XI, with Abdul Saqlain and Mustafizur Rahman not playing.
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hassan, Nurul Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon (wk), Towhid Hridoy (c), Shamim Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed.
Australia (Unchanged XI): Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Marsh (c), Cooper Connolly, Matt Renshaw, Tim David, Nikhil Chaudhary, Joel Davies, Aaron Hardie, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said every game they play, they look to win it, and 3-0 would be a great result. He confirmed they are going in with an unchanged lineup.
Early Innings Action
Bangladesh openers Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan started the innings, with Australia opting to begin with spin as Nikhil Chaudhary took the new ball. Tanzid got Bangladesh off the mark with a single, and then struck a boundary off Chaudhary in the first over, pulling a short ball to the fine leg fence.
Spencer Johnson bowled the second over and struck early. In the 1.3 over, Saif Hassan drove firmly back down the pitch, the ball struck the stumps at the bowler's end, and Johnson appealed for a run-out. The third umpire confirmed that Tanzid Hasan was out of his crease when the stumps were broken, departing for 5. Bangladesh were 6/1.
In the 1.5 over, Johnson dismissed Saif Hassan caught by Mitchell Marsh at mid off for 1, attempting to hit over the infield. Bangladesh slumped to 7/2.
Towhid Hridoy and Parvez Hossain Emon then steadied the innings, with Hridoy scoring a quick single off Johnson. At the end of 4 overs, Bangladesh were 10/2, with Emon on 1 and Hridoy on 2.
Pitch Report and Expert Opinion
Former Australian wrist spinner Brad Hogg reported that the surface has spent some time under covers, leaving a hint of moisture underneath, but expects it to dry out quickly once play begins. He noted that Australia showcased their power-hitting in the previous game with a flurry of sixes and believes the conditions are ideal for more of the same today. Hogg added that the pitch looks excellent for batting, with the ball expected to come onto the bat nicely and offer consistent bounce throughout the innings, predicting a high-scoring contest with a total around 200 as the benchmark score.
