Australia beat Bangladesh by 28 runs under the DL method in their first Super Eights match of the ongoing T20 World Cup in Antigua.
Rishad Hossain shone with the ball for Bangladesh on a slightly slower pitch, but Australia managed to secure victory after Bangladesh failed to mount a strong challenge.
The Bangladesh innings had its moments. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Bangladesh captain, played a composed innings, providing a solid foundation for the middle order. Towhid Hridoy, known for his aggressive hitting, injected much-needed momentum with two powerful sixes late in the innings.
However, Australia’s bowlers, led by Adam Zampa, kept the Bangladeshi batters in check. Zampa’s disciplined spell, claiming two wickets for 24 runs, put the brakes on a Bangladesh innings that never truly gained momentum.
The decisive blow was dealt by a hat-trick from Pat Cummins, who stifled Bangladesh’s late aggression. The first two wickets of the hat-trick came in the 18th over, dismissing Mahmudullah Riad and Mahedi Hasan. Cummins sealed the hat-trick with a slower ball to dismiss the dangerous Towhid Hridoy in the final over.
This marked the second hat-trick by an Australian bowler in the T20 World Cup, the first being achieved by Brett Lee, also against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh finished their innings at 140 for eight wickets in 20 overs.
Australia’s innings was a different story. David Warner and Travis Head attacked the Bangladesh bowlers from the outset, amassing 36 runs in the first four overs. Although Bangladesh’s spinners, Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan, briefly gained control, Australia had already built a solid platform for victory.
Warner blasted his way to a half-century, while Head looked equally menacing. Rain interrupted their progress when they were 28 runs ahead of the DLS par score, securing Australia’s win.
After the match, Bangladesh captain Shanto lamented the missed opportunity for more runs. “We should have scored 170, I felt,” Shanto said after the match. He praised the bowlers for their consistent efforts throughout the tournament and expressed hope that they would maintain their performance.
In their next Super Eights match, Bangladesh will face India, who defeated Afghanistan in their first match of this stage of the World Cup.
