Australia and Bangladesh clashed in the Super-12 Group 1 T20 World Cup match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Australia cruised to victory.
Full scorecard here
Match summary: Australia boost semi-final chances with a huge win
By Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor
Dubai: A huge six by Mitchell Marsh, off Taksin Ahmed in the seventh over, ended Bangladesh’s misery as Australia romped home by eight wickets in the day game of Group I at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
It was more a matter of how quickly the Aussies would reach the target after they sent the rivals packing for 73 all out in 15 overs with Adam Zampa returning with a five-wicket haul.
They did not disappoint either when skipper Aaron Finch (40) and David Warner (18) raced to a opening partnership of 58 runs. The duo eventually fell in trying to hit through the line, but the end came soon thereafter.
Australia win by eight wickets!
Maxwell picks up Taksin over long on reach 78/2 in 6.2 overs and close the match by eight wickets. The woeful Bangladesh campaign in this World Cup comes to an end.
OUT!
Warner, on 18, loses patience and is castled by Shoriful. The powerplay ends with Australia at 67/2 and it's just seven more runs to go.
OUT!
Finch, 40 off 20 balls, tries to belt Taksin through the line and is bowled. At 58/1, Australia send out Mitchell Marsh for some batting time.
SIX!
Finch walks into this one from Fizz on the leg stumps and dispatches over square leg. Australia are halfway there already and the powerplay is not yet over. It's 44/0 after four.
3 overs - Aus 23/0
Finch and Warner in no hurry against an accurate Mustafizur and Taksin Ahmed. They are 23/0 after three overs and the discussion is how soon this mis-match will end.
1 over - Aus 4/0 (Target 74)
Australia need to go hard at this target to sort out their net run-rate.
Australia need 74 from 20 overs
Taskin Ahmed is set to open the bowling for Bangladesh while David Warner and Aaron Finch are in the middle for Australia. They will be looking to wrap this is up inside 10 overs which will boost their net run rate.
Mid-match summary: Adam Zampa strikes rich as Bangladesh are all out for 73
By Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor
Dubai: Bengladesh’s woeful campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup continued as their batsman simply failed to show any character against Australian bowling here, being skittled out for 73 in 15 overs after being sent into bat.
The paltry total, Bangladesh’s second lowest in this format after 70 against New Zealand, offers Australia a golden opportunity to wrap this one up as quickly as possible to catch up on the run-rate and claw back to second spot in their group.
Leg spinner Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-0-19-5, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood chipped in with two wickets each.
Bangladesh 73 all out in 15 overs
An abysmal batting performance from Bangladesh as they are 73 all out in 15 overs, their second lowest total in T20s aftera 70 all out against New Zealand before. Zampa finish with 4-0-19-5. Australia will be looking to finish this one off quickly to boost their run-rate.
OUT!
Skipper Mamudullah's brief resistance also ends as his tickle off Mitchell Starc is caught well by a diving Wade. Is Bangladesh hurtling to their lowest T20 total here? It's an abysmal 65/8 after 13 overs.
OUT!
Zampa ends Bangladesh's mini-revival by claiming Shamim and then Mehdi Hassan off back-to-back deliveries. Bangladesh 64/7 after 12 overs as their woeful campaign continues. The Bangladesh media, who have given the press box a full look this afternoon, are crestfallen.
10 overs - Ban 58/5
We are at the halfway stage and it could not have been much better for Australia. Can Bangladesh last the full 20 overs?
50 up for Bangladesh
Bangladesh cross the 50-mark, thanks largely to some positive batting from young Naim. He picks up Zampa against the spin for their first six of their innings. They will have to wait for the right opportunities against such a relentless attack.
7 overs - Ban 38/5
Afif Hussain is the next man and a procession is well and truely on. A golden pair for him as he drives at a googly and Finch completes a chest-high catch. At 38/5 after 7 overs, the point is if Bangladesh can bat through 50 overs.
OUT!
Bangladesh are now 33/5...
OUT!
Bangladesh batters struggle to find answers to this Australian pace attack. Mohammed Naim, the left-hander who looked the only one in control, tries a pull a shade early and is caught at square leg. 32/4
OUT!
Bangladesh are collapsing here!
Maxwell strikes in his first over in powerplay. Mushfiqur Rahim, another seasoned campaigner, is caught in front of the wicket as Bangladesh are left gasping at 10/3.
OUT!
A disastrous start from Bangladesh. Sarkar, an experienced opener, chops one from Hazlewood onto his stumps. 6/2 after 2 overs.
1 over - Ban 2/1
Soumya Sarkar is the new batter.
OUT!
Golden duck for Das! Mitchell Starc strikes early.
Australia win toss, will field first.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live coverage of Australia vs Bangladesh from the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Australia have won the toss and have elected to field first.
The Teams
Australia have made one change with Mitchell Marsh back for Ashton Agar. Mustafizur Rahman returns for Bangladesh.
Australia: Aaron Finch(c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Bangladesh: Liton Das(wk), Mohammad Naim, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah(c), Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
Australia should have too much quality for Bangladesh
By Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor
Dubai: Australia will look to make the most against a demoralized Bangladesh in their Group I Super-12 match of ICC T20 World Cup at Dubai International Stadium this afternoon and boost their semi-final hopes.
Aaaron Finch’s men, who were taken to the cleaners by England in their previous outing, has had a few days’ rest and should find the task relatively easy against the Tigers – who have failed to live up to their reputation of an extremely competitive outfit.
Bangladesh, however, should take heart from the fact that they had upset the Aussies 4-1 in a T20 series earlier this year at home. They will be missing the experience of Shakib Al Hasan, the senior Bangladesh allrounder, who is injured and has returned home and there is still enough experience in the camp to make a match of it.
