BAN vs AUS: Matt Renshaw shines with bat and ball as Australia clinch T20I series against Bangladesh

NEW DELHI: Matt Renshaw starred with both bat and ball as Australia beat Bangladesh by seven runs in the second T20I on Friday to wrap up the three-match series with an elusive 2-0 lead.Renshaw smashed a career-best unbeaten 89 to power Australia to 196/5, their highest T20I total against Bangladesh, before taking on the ball to help restrict the hosts to 189/6 in a thrilling contest.Bangladesh, who lost the opener by four wickets, came close in the chase but ultimately fell short despite a strong start. Aaron Hardie was Australia’s most successful bowler with figures of 2/40.After opting to bat, Australia got off to a steady start through captain Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis. But Bangladesh struck early as left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed trapped Inglis lbw for 11 before pacer Nahid Rana removed Marsh for 20, leaving the visitors in trouble.Australia’s innings was buoyed by a match-defining partnership of 97 runs as Renshaw and Tim David played just 50 balls for the fourth wicket. David blasted 45 off 26 deliveries, hitting two fours and four sixes before falling to the slower ball of Abdul Gaffar.Renshaw continued to dominate, hitting four fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 52-ball 89. His late acceleration kept Australia just four runs short of the 200 mark.Bangladesh started a strong response, racing to 72/1 in the powerplay – their highest total of six over Australia in T20Is. Tanzid Hasan led the charge with a quick fire 30 off 15 balls.Australia found the breakthrough when Renshaw held a reverse catch to dismiss Tanzid. Saif Hassan then kept Bangladesh in the chase with 42 off 33 deliveries, but Australia’s spinners tightened the screws during the middle overs.Despite late pressure from the lower order, Bangladesh failed to find the boundaries consistently enough in the final overs to finish on 189/6, seven runs short of the target.The third and final T20I will be played in Chattogram on Sunday.