ICC T20 World Cup, AUS vs BAN: Australia thrashes Bangladesh by 8 wickets

Australia beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in a Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup at Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.

Australia romped to victory in just 6.2 overs with Aaron Finch (40 off 20) leading from the front.

Earlier, Adam Zampa registered best-ever figures for an Australian bowler in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup as Australia skittled out Bangladesh for just 73 in a Group 1 match at the Dubai International Stadium today. Apart from Zampa's 5/19, Mitchell Starc (2/21), Josh Hazlewood (2/8) and Glenn Maxwell (1/6) were other wicket-takers for Australia.

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Inserted into batting first, Australia were all over Bangladesh from the word go and never let the pressure boil down. Litton Das chopped on to his stumps off Mitchell Starc on third ball of the innings. In the next over, Soumya Sarkar was dismissed in the similar manner as Das, off Josh Hazlewood. Bangladesh's problems increased as Mushfiqur Rahim was trapped lbw by Glenn Maxwell.

Mohammad Naim collected two fours off Pat Cummins while captain Mahmudullah cracked back-to-back boundaries off Starc in the fifth over. Naim had hit Hazlewood for a four in the start of the final over of Power-play. But on the third ball of the innings, he pulled a short ball to mid-wicket.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was rewarded with a wicket on his first ball post Power-play as Afif Hossain nicked to first slip. Though Shamim Hossain slog-swept Starc and Zampa for a four and six respectively, he couldn't do much, nicking behind to keeper off Zampa in 11th over. Zampa had his second wicket of the over as Mahedi Hasan was rapped in from stumps.

Skipper Aaron Finch brought Starc back in the 13th over, a move which took out Mahmudullah, the last recognised batter, strangled down leg with keeper Wade diving to his left to complete the catch. Though Wade dropped the catch on Zampa's hat-trick ball, it didn't cost Australia much as Zampa dismissed Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam in three balls to bring Bangladesh's misery to an end with five overs remaining.

 
With four losses in as many games, Bangladesh are out of the tournament but Australia remain very much in the semifinals race after two wins in three games.

 
Australia vs Bangladesh playing 11

Australia playing 11: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
 
Bangladesh playing 11: Mohammad Naim, Liton Das(w), Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah(c), Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.

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Australia’s semifinal qualification chances
 
Because of Australia's low NRR, it will be tough for them to catch South Africa if both finish on six points: if Australia wins a game by 60 runs and loses another by one run, the Kangaroos will still need South Africa to lose to England by at least 32 runs to go past them on NRR (assuming the team batting first scores 160 each time).
 
It will be difficult for Australia to win if there is a three-way tie at eight points. Even if South Africa wins by one run, Australia would have to win by a total of 92 runs in both games to surpass South Africa's NRR. As a result, Australia's best chance is to win its final two games and hope England defeats South Africa.
 
Here are the squads of both the teams:
 
Australia Squad: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Kane Richardson, Mitchell Swepson, Josh Inglis.

Bangladesh Squad: Mohammad Naim, Liton Das(w), Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah(c), Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nurul Hasan, Rubel Hossain

3:03 PM

Australia vs Bangladesh toss

Australia have won the toss and have opted to field

3:01 PM

AUS vs BAN PITCH REPORT

This is the same pitch that was used for yesterday's match between NZ and Scotland. 328 runs were scored yesterday, so it's a decent batting surface. Will have some seam and bounce, and there might be some spin on offer as well

2:44 PM

T20 WC: Whole squad effort needed to win big tournaments, says Ashton Agar

Spinner Ashton Agar has said that a whole squad effort is needed for Australia to beat Bangladesh and keep their hopes of making the semi-finals alive.

 

The slow left-armer replaced Mitchell Marsh in the XI against England but Justin Langer's men suffered their first defeat of the ICC Men's World Cup 2021, losing by eight wickets with 50 balls still to bowl, putting a dent in their net run rate.

 

Agar is at risk of missing out on selection for the must-win Group 2 clash against Bangladesh in favour of all-rounder Marsh but understands that although everyone wants to play every game, it is more a case of horses for courses rather than being dropped.

 

"Naturally it's really tough anytime you don't get selected when you've been playing well. When it's based around matchups or conditions, you understand that it's part of being part of a really strong squad and doing what's necessary for that game at that point in time, those conditions, that match-up, and that's how we'll go about our business," Agar said in an official ICC release.

 

"So it's not necessarily being dropped, it's more about being not selected for that specific game and the guys who that's happened to, it happened to me; it happened to Mitch. I'm sure you would have felt that emotion straight away as soon as you get the news, but I feel like we've moved on from that really well, and you do everything you can to help your mates out there because it certainly takes a squad to win these tournaments," he added.

2:22 PM

Australia eyes big win for semis qualification

Australia would be aiming for a much improved batting effort after being hammered in their previous game when they take on the already eliminated Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup here on Thursday.

 

With four losses in as many games, Bangladesh are out of the tournament but Australia remain very much in the semifinals race after two wins in three games.

 

The Aaron Finch-led side was looking a formidable unit until England blew the arch-rivals away, exposing their vulnerabilities.

 

Finch got runs against England but the top-order has been inconsistent and he and David Warner will be looking to give the team a flying start. Questions were raised when left-arm spinner Ashton Agar replaced Mitchell Marsh in the playing eleven against England.

 

It remains to be seen if the team sticks to the same combination.

 

Glenn Maxwell has also not set the tournament on fire yet and the team will be relying on him, Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade to provide a bagful of runs in the last five overs.

 

Australia's high profile pace attack comprising Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc was put to sword by Jos Buttler but they will be expected to return to their efficient ways against Bangladesh.

 

Australia, albeit a depleted squad, lost a T20 series in Bangladesh earlier this year and they will also be looking to settle scores for that.
 

2:16 PM

ICC T20 World Cup: Australia vs Bangladesh LIVE

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Australia vs Bangladesh T20 WC match. Bangladesh is out of ICC T20 World Cup while Australia eyes semis spot in group of death.