Runs and wickets both rained down on Bangladesh’s hopes along with the stormy weather in Antigua today, as Australia, powered by David Warner and Pat Cummins, snatched a 28-run win in their Super Eight clash, courtesy of DLS.
With showers plaguing the skyline right before the toss as well, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh made good use of winning the toss and put up Bangladesh to bat first.
As a side, who have failed to show heart on the batting side of things, one could state that most of the Bangladesh squad faltered with the same yet again.
It did not take ace pacer Mitchell Starc any more than 3 balls to wreak havoc in classic fashion, demolishing the stumps of Tanzim Hasan with a fuller outswinger.
It all seemed far too similar, almost like Bangladesh fans knew what was coming far too well. But, skipper Shanto had other plans, as the left-hander went on to make a strong stand with a struggling Litton Das in order to pull themselves back into the game.
Shanto, whose previous-best innings in this T20 World Cup was a 14-run outing, played with tenacity and temperament, attacking the pacers when called for and braving the menacing spinners to notch up a patient 41-run innings.
Adam Zampa then came into the attack and did his damage on the other end, removing the likes of both Litton and Shanto in quick succession to turn the tide and pile the pressure on Bangladesh yet again, who were poised at 84-4 after 13 overs.
Then, yet another unexpected savior stepped up in the form of Towhid Hridoy, who took the attack to the Aussie bowlers, walloping them for boundaries at will, as he powered Bangladesh’s counterattack with his innings of 40 off 28 balls.
Once again when it seemed like they were in the clear, it was talisman pacer Pat Cummins, who breathed fire, to clinch a hattrick, removing Mahmudullah, Mehedi Hasan and Hridoy, to seal the deal and hold the Bangladesh side to just 140 runs at the end of it all.
For Australia though, it was smooth sailing with the bat from the get-go.
The swashbuckling opening pair of David Warner and Travis Head absolutely annihilated the Bangladesh pacers, whacking them for fours and sixes at will, as the duo looked unstoppable.
It was all sunny till the rains rained down on Australia’s party, as play was paused at 6.2 overs, with the Aussies standing tall at 64/0.
Fortune, along with the weather, changed for Bangladesh then onwards, as Rishad Hossain came into the attack and ran riot, removing Travis Head immediately upon resumption of play, and then Mitchell Marsh in the very next over, as Australia was taken by surprise.
But, none of it would matter, as David Warner, along with Glenn Maxwell, would go on to continue the hard-hitting rampage as he sliced and diced to a fantastic fifty with a six, right before rains called off play once again at 100/2 after 11.2 overs.
The rains would persist for the rest of the duration, and ultimately the game was called off, securing Australia the win by 28 runs by DLS, leaving Bangladesh out to dry.