ICC World Cup 2019 Match Match No 26 Played at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, UK on 20 June
Australia Vs Bangladesh
Brief Score Card :
Australia 381/5 ( DA Warner 166, UT Khawaja 89, AJ Flinch 63, GJ Maxwell 32, Soumya Sarkar 3/55 , Mustafizur Rahman 1/65) beat Bangladesh 333 All Out ( Mushfiqur Rahim 102* , Mahmudullah Riad 69, TamimIqbal 62, Shakib Al Hasan 42, Stoinis 2/54, Starc 2/55, Coulter-Nile 2/58, Zampa 1/68) by 48 runs .
Player of The Match: DA Warner
It was a match Bangladesh desperately required to win. But Bangladesh lost it going down fighting. Chasing a monumental score of 381/5 that Australia scored ruthlessly spanking toothless bowling, Bangladesh scored 333 their highest score in World Cup. Yet they lost by 48 runs.
This very loss in a crunch match complicated and compounded issues for Bangladesh qualifying for the semi finals. With 5 points from 6 matches its fortune would hinge upon winning all three remaining matches against India , Pakistan and Afghanistan and several other match results going their way. Australia with 10 points from 6 matches is now on the top of the table.
The feature of the match was a swashbuckling 166 in 147 balls by blaster David Warner. He was dropped by Sabbiroff Mashrafee while at 9. That costly lapse made a lot of difference. He is now the highest scorer of Australia in world cup and the only Australian player having two scores above 150 . A few records were set in the match.
This is for the first time Australians scored two more than 100 runs partnership in the fisrt two wickets ( 121fist wicket Warner – Flinch and 112 in the second wicket Warner –Khawaja) . 175 runs were added in the last 15 overs . 714 runs match aggregate is the highest in Nottingham.
Australian Top Batsmen In ODI
Batsman Score Team Against Year
David Warner 178 Afghanistan 2015
David Warner 166 Bangladesh 2019
Matthew Hayden 158 West Indies 2007
Aaron Flinch 153 Sri Lanka 2019
Australia batted first. On the easy paced wicket and small ground they mercilessly attacked Bangladesh bowling after making a cautious start. Story could be very different if Sabbir could hold the catch that Warner offered when on 9. At that stage both Warner and Flinch were struggling a bit in finding their timing. But that did not happen and Bangladesh paid heavy toll for that. Australians played Bangladesh spin attack of Shakib and Miraj pretty confidently. 121 runs were scored in 20.5 overs in the first wicket partnership when part timer Soumya brought the break through removing Flinch. Warner blitz was on show by that time. He was cutting, pulling and driving exquisitely well . Khawja joining him also matched him stroke for stroke . The fluent second wicket partnership added a further 192 batting Bangladesh almost out of the match. Soumya again had the prized scalp of Warner. But before getting out Warner did the damage blasting 166 off 147 deliveries with fourteen fours and five sixes. Khawaja playing at his normal position was also impressive in his innings of 89. Soumya also got his wicket. Between 35-50 overs Australia added a massive 175 runs creating Rock of Gibralter in front of Bangladesh.
The tiger’s bowling was looking toothless .. No regular bowler looked to trouble Australian batsmen. Part timer Soumya picked three of the five wickets with his gentle medium pace. Both Saifuddin and Mosaddeq were sadly missed. Australia ultimately posted a massive 381/5, an almost impossible target for Bangladesh to chase and overhaul. Apart from Warner (166), Khawaja (89) , Flinch (63), only Maxwell (32) made some contribution before getting run out . Smith failed being LBW to Mustafiz . All Bangladesh front liner bowlers struggled on the day. Rubel could not impress on his first match of the world cup. Neither could Shakib and Miraj could restrict free flowing Aussie batting. Mashrafee resorted to part timer Soumya and he delivered with 3/55 .
Bangladesh was however was not overawed by the strong bowling attack and the huge target they were set for chasing . But their mission was rocked as inform dasher Soumya was run out from a mix up with Tamimtoo early . Tamim was looking great and Shakib as usual were tweeting . The partnership were developing merrily. But unfortunately the run a ball 41 run innings of Shakibwas curtailed by smart bowling of Stoinis after the fluent partnership produced 79. Mushfique joining Tamim let the run chase going. Two senior professionals were keeping the asking rate within sight . But as it frequently happens Starc brought back struck a vital blow disturbing the furniture of Tamim at 62. The West Indies match hero Liton was looking good yet again till his brief innings was also curtained by Zampa .Litton scored 20.By that time at 4/178 in the 30 th over things started getting stiff. However , a well set Mushfique and horse for the course Mahmudullah shouldered the responsibility .The two M’s added 127 runs in 15 overs set a platform for a T20 finish when Mahmudullah got out scoring 69 in 50 deliveries . Such situation is tailor made for Sabbir . But he failed and so did Miraj and Mashrafee . Bangladesh sadly missed Mosaddeq and Saifuddin’s flamboyance at that stage. Not that it was easy. But it was not impossible also. Mushfique played a brilliant unbeaten innings of 102. Bangladesh could reach 333. It was still 48 runs short.
All is not yet lost for Bangladesh. In their current form they should win against Pakistan and Afghanistan. But they will have to play exceedingly well against India to qualify for the Semi Final. Some other results should also go in Bangladesh favor. Australia with 10 points from 5 matches in almost there.
In the hindsight we suggest that Bangladesh mustreassess its bowling capabilities. Mashrafee has control but no pace. Opposition have extensive home work of Bangladesh bowling . England and Australia have taken heavy toll of weak Bangladesh bowling .Gamble with Sabbir did not work. We feel Mithun for injured Mosaddeq could be ideal choice . He played few matches while for Sabbir could do nothing in his first match. . He dropped Warner early and Warner batted Bangladesh out of the match. In such a huge chase Mahmudullah should bat at higher position. He also failed with the bat scoring a duck. Hope Saifuddin and Mosaddeq recover before the next match.
BDST: 0331 HRS, JUN 21, 2019
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