Australian batsman James Faulkner celebrates after hitting the winning shot during the ICC World T20 match between Australia and Bangladesh at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru (Photo: AP)
Australia huffed and puffed their way to a three-wicket win against Bangladesh to get their ICC World T20 campaign back on track at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Monday.
In the Super 10 Group 2 match, chasing a stiff target of 157, Usman Khawaja and Shane Watson (21, 15b, 2x4, 1x6) provided a fiery start with a 44-ball 62-run opening stand. Khawaja (58, 45b, 7x4, 1x6) was in his element as he danced around the crease to pick the gaps while Watson, dropped by Mohammad Mithun at 13, played the anchor role before being run out after some good work from the deep by Sabbir Rahman.
Bangladesh struck in quick succession with Smith (14, 13b, 1x6) sent back by a Mustafizur stinger, Khawaja bowled by Al-Amin Hossain and David Warner caught and bowled by Shakib Al-Hasan to leave Australia reeling at 119/4. Mitchell Marsh followed soon after but two sixes by Glen Maxwell (26, 15b, 2x4, 2x6) turned the tide in Australia’s favour.
Earlier, keeping the bans and injuries that plagued their squad aside, Bangladesh showed copious amounts of heart and fight as they refused to back down against the might of Australia. Put in to bat, the Asian side managed a challenging 156 for 5 in their alloted 20 overs.
SCOREBOARD Bangladesh: M. Mithun c Watson b Zampa 23, S. Sarkar c Maxwell b Watson 1, S. Rahman c Faulkner b Watson 12, S. Al Hasan c Coulter-Nile b Zampa 33, S. Hom lbw b Zampa 13, Mahmudullah (not out) 49, M. Rahim (not out) 15. Extras (lb7, w3) 10. Total (for five wickets in 20 overs) 156. Fow: 1-2, 2-25, 3-62, 4-78, 5-105. Bowling: Coulter-Nile 4-0-21-0, Watson 4-0-31-2, Hastings 3-0-24-0, Marsh 1-0-12-0, Maxwell 1-0-12-0, Zampa 4-0-23-3, Faulkner 3-0-26-0. Australia: U. Khawaja b Al-Amin Hossain 58, S. Watson run out (Sabbir Rahman) 21, S. Smith b Mustafizur Rahman 14, D. Warner c & b Shakib Al Hasan 17, G. Maxwell st Mushfiqur Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 26, M. Marsh c Shakib Al Hasan b Mustafizur Rahman 6, J. Faulkner (not out) 5, J. Hastings c Soumya Sarkar b Shakib Al Hasan 3, P. Nevill (not out) 1. Extras (lb-2, w-4) 6. Total (for seven wickets in 18.3 overs) 157. Fow: 1-62, 2-95, 3-115, 4-119, 5-135, 6-148, 7-152. Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 1-0-9-0, Mahmudullah 2-0-22-0, Al-Amin Hossain 2-0-14-1, Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-30-2, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-27-3, Saqlain Sajib 3.3-0-40-0, Shuvagata Hom 2-0-13-0.
