DHAKA, June 21, 2024 (BSS)- An abysmal batting effort led Bangladesh to a 28-
run defeat to Australia on DLS method in their first game of the T20 World
Cup Super 8 phase today at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Bangladesh put up 140-7 after being asked to bat first but Australia made it
the cake-walk, reaching 100-2 in 11.2 overs following the rain-interruption
twice in the match.

As per DLS calculation, Australia need to score 72 in 11.2 overs and when the
rain had the final say, they were clearly ahead of 28 runs.

David Warner led the way with 35 ball-53 not out, an innings laced with five
fours and three sixes. He and his fellow opener Travis Head treated
Bangladesh bowlers in disdain to keep the chase rolling emphatically.

Bangladesh bowlers, who looked invincible in the slow-paced wicket in group
phase, saw the other side of the coin when they got the true wicket for the
first time in the tournament.

Warner and Head raced to 62 for no loss in the seventh over before rain
halted the game for the first time.

After the rain brake, Bangladesh got the breakthrough leg-spinner Rishad
Hossain who rattled the stump of Head made 31 off 21 with three fours and two
sixes.

In his next over, Rishad trapped Australia captain Mitchell Marsh for 1 to
finish with 2-23 from three overs.

With rain in the forecast and DLS calculation on the way, Head and Glenn
Maxwell came down heavily on Bangladesh bowlers to ensure an effortless
victory.

Maxwell, who hit one four and one six, was unbeaten on 14 after playing just
six balls.

On a wicket, ideal for both batting and bowling, Bangladesh batters continued
their slump. Against a bowling attack, considered as one of the best in
cricket history, Bangladesh stumbled from the very beginning.

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who had figures of 1-21, rattled the stump of
Tanzid Hasan Tamim in the third ball of the innings to remove him for duck.

Out of form batters--Liton Das and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto-- played
patiently against the devastating fast bowling attack that included the likes
of Starc, Josh Hazzlewood and Pat Cummins.

While they survived, the scoring rate slowed down considerably. Australia
then went to their spinners for a breakthrough and they obliged with leg-
spinner Adam Zampa dealt a double blow, dismissing Liton Das for 16 and
Shanto for 41 before Maxwell removed Rishad (2) who was promoted to No. 4
position ahead of Shakib Al Hasan.

Liton played 25 balls for his 16 but Shanto showed a glimpse of returning
back to form after hitting five fours and one six in his 36 ball-knock.

With Bangladesh reeling at 84-4 in 13 overs, the impetus came from Towhid
Hridoy who blasted 28 ball-40 with two fours and as many sixes. While his
knock gave Bangladesh a hope to take the score past 160, Cummins' heroics put
a dent on it.

After a wicketless first spell, Cummins claimed his hat-trick across overs 18
and 20. On the fifth and sixth ball of the 18th over, he dismissed
Mahmudullag Riyad (2) and Mahedi Hasan (0). When Cummins came on to bowl the
final over of the innings, he started with a slower one from outside off
against set batter Towhid Hridoy, who scooped the delivery to short fine leg.
However, it was the sixth time that Mahmudullah was a victim in a hat-trick
in international cricket.

Having done so, Cummins achieved the feat of first hat-trick of this World
Cup and the seventh overall in the tournament's history. Cummins, the Test
format captain of Australia, became the second Australian after Brett Lee to
claim this feat in T20 World Cups. Curtis Campher, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kagiso
Rabada, Karthik Meiyappan and Josh Little are the other bowlers to have
completed hat-tricks at the event.

Cummins finally ended with 3-29 to be the most successful bowler for the side
while Zampa took 2-24.