Australia jump to second after crushing Bangladesh
AUSTRALIA RESIGNED Bangladesh to a big defeat in the Tigers’ final match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and gave themselves a net run rate boost.
The Australian bowlers, led by Adam Zampa, restricted a hapless Bangladesh to 73, before Aaron Finch’s men stormed to the target in 6.2 overs.
Zampa picked up five wickets with his leg-spin, his five for 19 the best figures of the tournament so far and the best for Australia in T20 Internationals. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood had two each.
Bangladesh’s batting woes followed them into their final match of the tournament. Only three batters got into double figures, nobody made more than 20, and they were bundled out in 15 overs.
Australia enjoyed a big net run rate boost with the result, leapfrogging South Africa to be second on the table behind England.
QUICK CHASE
The loss to England had hit Australia’s net run rate and meant that, should they find themselves equal on points with South Africa after all the games were played, they would lose out.
Hence, Aaron Finch came out swinging, keen to knock off the runs in quick time. He took a fancy to Mustafizur Rahman, targeting the midwicket boundaries and sending the ball soaring into the stands. Taskin Ahmed, too, was smashed for back-to-back sixes before Finch was bowled going for another big one, falling for 40 off just 27 balls.
Although Australia then lost Warner as well, they had knocked off 67 runs in the Powerplay, the highest total in that period all tournament.
Another six over midwicket, this time from Mitchell Marsh, completed the formalities.