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CRICKET-BD-AUS-MATCH-REPORT
Bangladesh lose despite ODI high
DHAKA, June 20, 2019 (BSS)–Bangladesh showed a spirited performance before conceding a 48-run defeat to Australia who left the Tigers in record chase, compiling a hefty 381-5 thanks to an epic 146-ball 166 from David Warner at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Thursday.
The Tigers finally were bundled out for 333, their highest total in ODI cricket history, eclipsing 330-6 against South Africa in this World Cup opener.
The victory took Australia to the top of the point table with 10 points from six games. Bangladesh sits at fifth position with five from six matches but mathematically is in the semifinal race still.
Usman Khawaja scored a well-composed 72-ball 89, skipper Aaron Finch struck 51-ball 53 while Glenn Maxwell paced the innings towards the end with brutal 10-ball 32 to aid Warner who hit his second century in last three matches in this World Cup as Australia racked up their second highest total in the cricket’s biggest carnival.
It was tougher by any means even though Bangladesh chased down 322 successfully against West Indies in this week. But they refused to give up hopes.
Mushfiqur Rahim led the charge with an unbeaten 102 off 97, his seventh ton, also his first in cricket’s showpiece event that made him the third Bangladeshi batsman to hit World Cup century after Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib Al Hasan.
Opener Tamim Iqbal scored 74-ball 62 while Mahmudullah Riyad blasted 50-ball 69 with five fours and three sixes.
Soumya Sarkar was run out with a mix-up with Tamim as Bangladesh began their chase disastrously but inform Shakib Al Hasan steadied the ship and paced the innings with typically aggressive knock.
Tamim as was usually restrained and while it looked Shakib would end up with another fifty-plus knock to emulate Steve Smith’s (2015 World Cup) five fifty plus knock at the start of the campaign in a row, Marcus Stoinis undid him with a slower to end his run-a-ball-41.
Mitchell Starc clattered Tamim’s stump to dismiss him for 62 while Adam Zampa had Liton Das (20) leg-before with quicker delivery to peg back Bangladesh’s innings.
But Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad resisted. As they matched with stroke to stroke, sharing 127 off just 97, pressure was reversed on Australia.
Nathan Coulter-Nile quelled the tension in Australian tent, dealing a double strike to take out Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman for naught in consecutive deliveries.
The match was virtually ended but Mushfiqur gave the nation something to cheer with pushing one to cover region for a single to complete his seventh ton in the penultimate over.
Starc, Coulter-Nile and Stoinis took two wickets apiece for Australia.
Warner clattered 14 fours and five sixes in his innings to break down Bangladesh mentally after his captain Finch opted to bat first.
Soumya Sarkar surprisingly was the toast of Bangladesh bowling, claiming his career best 3-58 from eight overs.
Warner and Finch laid the platform, sharing 121 runs in just 20.5 overs, capitalizing on Bangladesh’s listless bowling attack and shoddy fielding.
Soumya Sarkar got the better of inform Finch to make a breakthrough with one that surprisingly carried extra bounce to baffle him and ended his 51 ball-53, including five fours and two sixes.
Bangladesh let Warner to survive on 10, when Sabbir Rahman shelled an easy chance at backward point off Mashrafe bowling.
Making the life count, Warner, alongside Usman Khawaza who also found his Midas touch added 192 off just 139 balls to throw Bangladesh away from the match.
Warner brought up his 16th hundred with a single off 110 balls after which he paced the innings in emphatic fashion. In doing so, he brought up his sixth 150 plus knock off 139 ball, taking a single off Mustafizur Rahman through long-on.
Just as he looked destined to a double hundred, Soumya again struck to dismiss him for 166 off 146, which was studded with 14 fours and five sixes.
But Bangladesh’s misery was extended when Glenn Maxwell raised realistic hope of taking the team past 400. His unfortunate run out after blasting 32 off 10 balls with three maximums and two fours gave Bangladesh a sigh of relief and brought a mini collapse that saw Australia loss three wickets for one run including Khawaja.
Bangladesh then bowled with some good plan to tie down Australia to somewhat but still Australia plundered 131 runs in last 10 overs.
In the meantime rain interrupted the proceedings of the game for 15 minutes when Australia was on 368-5 in 49 overs. As game resumed Australia plundered 13 runs from Mustafizur Rahman to finish the innings on good note.
BSS/SMP/MMA/0012HRS