Chasing 284, Australia were put under pressure by Rana’s fiery pace and bounce as he produced a match-winning spell of 4 for 41. The right-arm quick struck crucial blows, removing Carey and captain Josh Inglis in the top order on a surface that offered assistance to fast bowlers.
Carey said the Australian batters had anticipated Rana’s pace, but experiencing it in real conditions was a different challenge.
“We all knew the pace, but until you face it firsthand—he’s a really tall athlete and gets a bit of bounce as well. He bowled really well,” Carey said after the match.
He added that Bangladesh’s pace attack, led by Rana, made a strong impression on Australia’s top order, especially in a debut-heavy batting line-up.
“It’s the first look at a lot of their quicks for our batters. Clearly, he was a standout with that extra pace and bounce on a wicket that allows it,” he noted.
Rana continued his impact in his second spell as well, dismissing debutant Liam Scott and Xavier Bartlett, further dismantling the Australian chase. Carey conceded that Australia struggled to contain him at that stage of the innings.
“In the second spell, he came back and we knew what to expect, I guess. We just weren’t able to keep him out of the game. That’s what you expect from fast bowlers getting into the contest,” he said.
The left-hander also reflected on a heated exchange between Rana and Josh Inglis following the latter’s dismissal, describing it as part of competitive cricket.
“I haven’t spoken to Josh yet. That’s what you want in cricket—a bit of spice. You don’t want it to go over the edge, but it was two players getting into the contest,” Carey added.
The second and third ODIs of the series will be played in Dhaka on June 11 and June 14 respectively.
