UNB, Dhaka :
The abysmal World Cup agony of Bangladesh has finally ended with a big eight-wicket defeat to Australia on Thursday in Dubai.
It was the fifth straight defeat for Bangladesh in the Super 12s stage of this year’s T20 World Cup.
After losing the toss and being sent to bat first, Bangladesh tumbled for 73 all out in 15 overs with Adam Zampa taking five wickets for 19— the best bowling figure in the World Cup so far. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood took two wickets each as well.
While replying to Bangladesh’s 73, Australia batted only for 6.2 overs and won the match with 82 balls to spare. There is only one instance when a team won a match with 82 or more balls to spare in a T20 World Cup match.
Before being bowled out to Bangladesh’s best bowler in this World Cup, Taskin Ahmed, Australian captain Aaron Finch scored 40 off 20 balls.
Shoriful Islam was the only other bowler who took a wicket for Bangladesh.
Earlier, Bangladesh lost four wickets for 33 runs in the powerplay. It was just another lean batting display by the Tigers at the powerplay in this World Cup.
The Tigers lost the first wickets when Liton Das suffered a golden duck in the first over of the match ended his World Cup agony.
In the next over, Soumya Sarkar fell for five. He started well hitting a four early, but once again, failed to carry on— the typical Soumya in this World Cup.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Afif Hossain also failed once again scoring 1 and a duck.
After Liton, Mahedi Hasan was the second Bangladeshi batter in this match to suffer a golden duck.
Shamim Hossain was the highest runs taker for Bangladesh scoring 19 off 18 balls with one four and one six.
Bangladesh made one change in their playing XI replacing Nasum Ahmed with Mustafizur Rahman. The left-handed pacer was out of the team in the previous match.
Bangladesh are missing the service of Shakib Al Hasan as the allrounder has been ruled out of the event with a hamstring injury.
Earlier, Bangladesh also lost Mohammad Saifuddin and Nurul Hasan Sohan with injury concerns.
The Bangladesh team management did not call for other options.
Before the clash against Australia, Bangladesh tumbled for under-100 runs against South Africa which was termed as an aberration, but against Australia, the Tigers proved that was not.
While taking the field in this match, Australia had an eye on the Net Run Rate to overpower South Africa who now also have the same amount of points. But the better run rate is putting the Aussies at the upper place than South Africa.
Right before the World Cup, Bangladesh beat Australia and New Zealand in two consecutive T20 series. The Tigers proved in the World Cup that performance was only a gift by their condition in Mirpur which was a minefield for the batters.
Bangladesh team was heavily reliant on the players like Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah Riyad, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar and Mustafizur Rahman. It came as an utter surprise that all have failed together.
With wound of World Cup failure, the Tigers will have to take on Pakistan at home later this month.
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