Australia beat Bangladesh to stay in hunt for semi-finals

Australia boosted their hopes of advancing to the T20 World Cup semi-finals after leg-spinner Adam Zampa led a “clinical” eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday.

Australia and South Africa are vying to grab the second semi-final spot from Group I, behind leaders England, and Aaron Finch’s team needed a net run-rate boost to go with a victory and their bowlers rose to the occasion.

Zampa led the rout with 5-19 as Australia skittled out Bangladesh for 73 in 15 overs. Aaron Finch smashed 40 off 20 balls as Australia romped home in just 6.2 overs for their third win in four matches, while Bangladesh ended their Super 12 campaign losing all five matches.

Australia face West Indies in their final Super 12 match on Saturday when South Africa play England.

“Really clinical performance,” Finch said after Australia leapfrogged South Africa into second place on account of a better net runrate, though both are level on six points.

“We thought we would take the opportunity to win big if we got the chance, but you can’t plan for that.”

Zampa was named manof-the-match after returning the best bowling figures by an Australian in the tournament’s history.

Australia’s bowling attack was too good for a Bangladesh side who were without their injured all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.

Such a meagre total was unlikely to test Australia’s batting might and Finch smashed four sixes in his 20ball blitz. David Warner fell for 18 but Mitchell Marsh sealed the big win, hitting Taskin Ahmed for a six.

“When you have these sort of performances, it is hard to say much,” Mahmudullah said. “We have to figure out what went wrong when we go back to Bangladesh.”