Australia down determined Bangladesh in ODI opener

Megan Schutt has issued a reminder of her class with the new-ball, joining an exclusive club with her 150th one-day international wicket as Australia cruised to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the series opener in Brisbane.

Schutt took two wickets inside her first nine deliveries, including one with the first ball of the match, to set the tone for Australia as they bowled a stubborn Bangladesh line-up out for 166 in 49.4 overs at Allan Border Field.

Phoebe Litchfield (77 off 57 balls) then ensured the hosts made short work of the chase, reeling in their target with 24.2 overs to spare.

Litchfield's opening partner Georgia Voll, who scored her first ODI century on her home turf at AB Field in late 2024, struggled to get going before holing out for an 18-ball 19.

At the other end, Litchfield took seven balls to get off the mark before doing so in style, with a flick to the boundary off the bowling of debutant Habiba Islam Pinky.

Having been watchful against rapid Bangladesh quick Marufa Akter early, Litchfield flicked the switch in the seventh over, hitting three consecutive boundaries off the right-armer. Handbrake released, she dispatched Habiba for six over the boundary and raced to a half-century from 35 deliveries.

The left-hander was gifted a couple of lives before Bangladesh made one stick, with Ritu Moni holding onto a simple chance at extra over off leg-spinner Rabeya Khan, breaking Litchfield's 90-run stand with Ellyse Perry.

With just 48 runs needed and 33.5 overs in which to get them, Australia continued their charge towards victory. Habiba however ensured there would be one more highlight to add to her impressive debut game, picking up a second wicket when Fargana Hoque Pinky hung onto a tough chance diving forward at mid-wicket to dismiss Beth Mooney for 13.

Earlier, Schutt struck with the first ball of the match, producing a prodigious inswinger that had opener Fargana edging to Litchfield at slip.

That moved Schutt to 149 one-day international wickets and she did waste any time in bringing up No.150, trapping Sarmin Sultana (4) in front with her ninth delivery of the match – another superb in-swinger.

The South Australian is just the third Australian woman to take 150 ODI wickets, joining an elite club featuring the great Cathryn Fitzpatrick (180) and current teammate Perry (166).

Her new-ball masterclass, which validated stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath's decision to bowl first on a bright and sunny Brisbane afternoon, had Australia on top from the get-go.

It also continued Schutt's strong record at AB Field, where she has taken 20 wickets including a career-best 5-19 against India last February.

She finished with a miserly 2-19 from her 10 overs, while Sutherland's claimed 4-30 during a crafty 9.4-over spell that ensured Australia never surrendered their dominant position despite a gritty innings from Ritu Moni that helped drag the Bangladesh innings into the 50th over.

Sharmin Akter Supta looked to put some pressure back on the hosts, hitting five boundaries, but the introduction of Sutherland into the attack inside the Powerplay brought about the third wicket as she had Supta well caught for 26-ball 24 by a diving Alana King at square leg.

Bangladesh have struggled to push the scoring rate in previous ODIs against Australia, notably in last year's ODI World Cup round match in Vizag where they ground their way to 9-198 from 50 overs – a target the Aussies took just 24.5 overs to reel in.

That same doggedness was on display on this occasion, as experienced captain Nigar Sultana Joty dug in for a stubborn 86-ball innings that yielded just 29 runs.

Veteran allrounder Moni (45 off 63) was impressive against the disciplined Australian attack, while Shorna Akter (21 off 50) also looked to draw out the tourists' innings for as long as possible.  

Sutherland eventually wrapped up their innings with her fourth wicket, as the Tigresses were bowled out for 166 after 49.4 overs.

Ashleigh Gardner (1-30 off seven overs), Georgia Wareham (1-7 off four) and McGrath (1-9 off three) were the other Australian wicket takers.

Australia and Bangladesh will meet again at the same venue on Sunday.

NRMA Insurance Women's ODI Series v Bangladesh

First ODI: Australia won by seven wickets

Second ODI: Sunday, October 11 (D/N)

Third ODI: Wednesday, October 14 (D/N)

* All matches played at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, starting at 1:50pm local

Australia ODI squad: Tahlia McGrath (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham 

Bangladesh ODI squad: Nigar Sultana (c), Nahida Akter, Shorna Akter, Marufa Akter, Rabeya Khan, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Sarmin Sultana, Sharmin Akter, Sanjida Akther, Sultana Khatun, Dilara Akter, Farzana Haque, Disha Biswas, Murshida Khatun, Habiba Islam

NRMA Insurance Women's T20 Series v New Zealand

First T20I: Sunday, October 18

Second T20I: Tuesday, October 20

Third T20I: Thursday, October 22

* All matches played at North Sydney Oval starting at 7:15pm AEDT

Australia T20I squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham 

New Zealand T20I squad: Melie Kerr (c), Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis (wk), Bella James, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp

All women's international matches will be shown live on Seven, 7Plus, Kayo Sports and Foxtel