Sports Desk: Despite putting up a respectable 306-8, Bangladesh
tasted a crushing eight-wicket defeat to Australia in their last match of the
ICC Cricket World Cup today at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in
Pune.
Bangladesh, however, ended their mission with two wins and seven defeats,
collecting four points from nine matches. They are at eighth position at this
moment and looked likely to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan
in 2025 unless Netherlands upset hot favourite India tomorrow.
Australia finished third with 14 points based on net run rate and will take
on second placed South Africa, which also have 14 points, in the second
semifinal at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on November 16.
Australia rode on Mitchell Marsh’s career-best 132 ball-177 to gun down
Bangladesh’s total with 307-2 in just 44.2 overs. Marsh smashed 17 fours and
nine sixes in his second ton in this World Cup.
Steven Smith was unbeaten on 63 and ensured the victory with a boundary off
Mustafizur Rahman bowling through mid-on.
Bangladesh got a hope to defend their first 300 plus total in this World Cup
when Taskin Ahmed rattled the stump of Travis Head (10) cheaply. But Marsh
dented the hopes with counterattacking approach, making the Bangladesh
bowling disarray.
He and David Warner who made 53, stitched 120-run for the second wicket to
lay the platform. Mustafizur Rahman removed Warner before Smith and Marsh
sealed the victory, sharing 175 runs for the undefeated third wicket.
Being sent to bat first, Bangladesh compiled their highest total in this
World Cup, thanks to Towhid Hridoy’s 74, which was his maiden half-century in
the cricket’s showcase event.
Bangladesh made a bright start with openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Liton Das
putting on 76-run for the opening stand.
Both of them scored 36 runs before being departed in quick succession. But
Najmul Hossain Shanto who led the side in this match in absence of injured
Shakib Al Hasan, shared 64-run with Towhid Hridoy to give the side a platform
of big total.
After Shanto was run out for 45, Hridoy kept the scoreboard flowing despite
senior duo Mahmdullah Riyad (32) and Mushfiqur Rahim’s (21) premature
departure.
He struck five fours and two sixes in his knock and got dismissed after
taking the side closer to 300-run mark.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a 20 ball-29 toward the end to give Bangladesh a
hope which was dashed at the end by Marsh.
Sean Abbott and Adam Zampa took two wickets apiece for Australia.
