BSS, Dhaka :
An abysmal batting effort led Bangladesh to a 28-run defeat to Australia on DLS method in their first game of the T20 World Cup (WC) ‘Super Eight’ phase on Friday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
Bangladesh put up 140-7 after being asked to bat first but Australia made it the cake-walk, reaching 100-2 in 11.2 overs following the rain-interruption twice in the match.
After a wicketless first spell, Cummins claimed his hat-trick across overs 18 and 20. On the fifth and sixth ball of the 18th over, he dismissed Mahmudullag Riyad (2) and Mahedi Hasan (0). When Cummins came on to bowl the final over of the innings, he started with a slower one from outside off against set batter Towhid Hridoy, who scooped the delivery to short fine leg. However, it was the sixth time that Mahmudullah was a victim in a hat-trick in international cricket.
Having done so, Cummins achieved the feat of first hat-trick of this World Cup and the seventh overall in the tournament’s history. Cummins, the Test format captain of Australia, became the second Australian after Brett Lee to claim this feat in T20 World Cups. Curtis Campher, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kagiso Rabada, Karthik Meiyappan and Josh Little are the other bowlers to have completed hat-tricks at the event.
Cummins finally ended with 3-29 to be the most successful bowler for the side, while Zampa took 2-24.
As per DLS calculation, Australia need to score 72 in 11.2 overs and when the rain had the final say, they were clearly ahead of 28 runs.
David Warner led the way with 35 ball-53 not out, an innings laced with five fours and three sixes. He and his fellow opener Travis Head treated Bangladesh bowlers in disdain to keep the chase rolling emphatically.
Bangladesh bowlers, who looked invincible in the slow-paced wicket in group phase, saw the other side of the coin when they got the true wicket for the first time in the tournament.
Warner and Head raced to 62 for no loss in the seventh over before rain halted the game for the first time.
After the rain brake, Bangladesh got the breakthrough leg-spinner Rishad Hossain who rattled the stump of Head made 31 off 21 with three fours and two sixes.
In his next over, Rishad trapped Australia captain Mitchell Marsh for 1 to finish with 2-23 from three overs.
With rain in the forecast and DLS calculation on the way, Head and Glenn Maxwell came down heavily on Bangladesh bowlers to ensure an effortless victory.
Maxwell, who hit one four and one six, was unbeaten on 14 after playing just six balls.
On a wicket, ideal for both batting and bowling, Bangladesh batters continued their slump. Against a bowling attack, considered as one of the best in cricket history, Bangladesh stumbled from the very beginning.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who had figures of 1-21, rattled the stump of Tanzid Hasan Tamim in the third ball of the innings to remove him for duck.
Out of form batters-Litton Das and Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto-played patiently against the devastating fast bowling attack that included the likes of Starc, Josh Hazzlewood and Pat Cummins.
While they survived, the scoring rate slowed down considerably. Australia then went to their spinners for a breakthrough and they obliged with leg-spinner Adam Zampa dealt a double blow, dismissing Litton Das for 16 and Shanto for 41 before Maxwell removed Rishad (2) who was promoted to No. 4 position ahead of Shakib Al Hasan.
Litton played 25 balls for his 16 but Shanto showed a glimpse of returning back to form after hitting five fours and one six in his 36 ball-knock.
With Bangladesh reeling at 84-4 in 13 overs, the impetus came from Towhid Hridoy who blasted 28 ball-40 with two fours and as many sixes. While his knock gave Bangladesh a hope to take the score past 160, Cummins’ heroics put a dent on it.