His unbeaten innings came off only 96 balls, including 15 boundaries and as many sixes, steering Australia to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The next match is on Wednesday, with Australia having won the series opener by 60 runs on Saturday.
Watson broke the world record for most sixes in an ODI innings, set at 12 by West Indies’ Xavier Marshall against Canada in 2008 and also put an end to Matthew Hayden’s record of 181 as the highest ODI score by an Australian, set against New Zealand in 2007.
Chasing Bangladesh’s 229-7 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Watson and former skipper Ricky Ponting took Australia to 232-1 in just 26 overs to secure victory. The duo enjoyed a second wicket partnership of 170 runs.
Watson’s quickfire 100 came from only 69 balls with 11 boundaries and six sixes. And the superb shots didn’t stop there.
Bangladesh used six bowlers but skipper Shakib Al Hasan was the only man to take a wicket, having Brad Haddin (8) caught by Mahmudullah. Ponting was unbeaten on 37.
Skipper Michael Clarke said Watson’s innings “was probably the best innings I have ever seen.”
Watson was more restrained, saying: “(It was) just one of those days when everything you try comes off. I had no idea about the record. It was just that I was pretty tired and I didn’t want to run too much.
“It was just quite hot and humid, so I thought I’d limit my running and hit a few boundaries. It worked out nicely.” Bangladesh captain Shakib pinpointed his side’s bowling as the problem.
“We didn’t put the ball in the right areas,” he said.
“And Watson batted really well. He took the game away from us and deserves all the credit.” Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shahriar Nafees had both scored half centuries for Bangladesh.
Rahim led the scoring with an unbeaten 81 from 80 balls, containing nine boundaries and a six, after going to the crease with Bangladesh in serious trouble at 65-4 after winning the toss and deciding to bat. Nafees contributed 56 from 73 balls before he was caught and bowled by Steve Smith.
Mitchell Johnson took 3-54 to lead the Australian attack, with Smith claiming 2-34 as Bangladesh’s openers were dismissed cheaply.
Tamim Iqbal (5) was caught at slip by Watson off Johnson and the same pair combined to remove Imrul Kayes (5).
Johnson also removed Sohrawardy Shuvo (16), caught by Smith.
Rahim and Mahmudullah steadied the Bangladesh innings by adding 79 runs for the sixth wicket before Mahmuduallah was trapped lbw by Watson for 38.
The series is the first for both countries since their disappointing World Cup campaigns.
Co-host Bangladesh, which lost to the West Indies and South Africa, failed to survive the group stage. Australia, winner of the three previous editions, crashed out in the quarterfinals.
Ponting resigned as test and ODI skipper following the World Cup, but agreed to continue to playing under Clarke.
