North Sound (Antigua): Premier pacer Pat Cummins grabbed the tournament’s first hat-trick and spinner Adam Zampa showcased his artistry to fashion Australia’s 28-run win over Bangladesh via the Duckworth Lewis (DLS) method in their Super Eights fixture of the T20 World Cup here.
If Zampa (2/24) operated with precision in the middle overs, Cummins (3/29) claimed three wickets off successive balls at the back end, as Australia restricted Bangladesh to 140 for eight after Mitchell Marsh opted to bowl first in the rain-interrupted game.
Veteran opener David Warner (53 not out off 35 balls) then hit a scintillating half-century, a knock that was studded with five fours and three sixes.
“I’ve had a few (hat-tricks) in juniors, never for Australia. (Ashton) Agar and (Nathan) Ellis, on the bench, have hat-tricks, joined their club. It’s pretty awesome to tick that off,” player of the match Cummins said at the post-match presentation.
Australia were in a hurry to finish the game with openers Warner and Travis Head (31) going hammer and tongs from the very first ball.
The pair raced to 60/0 before rain interrupted play. Once play resumed, the Aussies lost a bit of momentum as Rishad Hossain (2/23 in 3 overs) got into the act.
The young leg-spinner removed Head and Mitchell Marsh (1) in quick succession.
Despite the twin blows however, Australia never looked in trouble as Warner went about his business.
Playing his last T20 World Cup, he brought up his fifty with a majestic six.
When rain stopped play for the second time, Australia were 100 for two in 11.2 overs, 28 runs ahead of the DLS par score of 72.
Earlier, left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc expectedly gave Australia the early breakthrough as he got Tanzid Hasan in the first over to become the leading wicket-taker in World Cups (95), moving past Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga.
Liton Das (16) and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (41) repaired the innings by stitching a 58-run stand.
Shanto smacked Josh Hazlewood for a six over long on in the fourth over. He then took on Starc, hitting a couple of fours in the fifth over.
“The wicket was good, bit slow, but we should have made at least 170. Playing against this team, we should gamble, today Rishad came at 4 to tackle the spinners, he’s a big-hitter but he couldn’t execute that,” Shanto said after the match.
“I’m doing alright so far, think I can do a bit more. It’s very important for the top-order to get runs like we did today, that’s a big boost, hopefully the bowlers will continue their form.”
But when Zampa had the ball he immediately put an end to the partnership, trapping Das leg before wicket in the ninth over.
Australian spinners Zampa and Glenn Maxwell tightened the noose around Bangladesh who could only muster 26 runs from the ninth to the 13th over while losing Rishad Hossain (2), and the key wicket of Shanto, who was dismissed by Zampa.
Hridoy (40 off 28) took Bangladesh past the 100-run mark and tried hard to inflate his side’s total. He smashed back-to-back sixes off Marcus Stoinis.
But any chance of a strong finish by Bangladesh was dashed by Cummins who made a significant impact at the fag end of the innings.
The pacer took wickets off consecutive balls in the end of the 18th over. Mahmudullah attempted a pull shot but ended up playing the ball back on to his stumps. Cummins then had Mahedi Hasan caught by Zampa.
The pacer returned in the last over to send Hridoy packing with his first ball to complete the hat-trick.
“It was an exciting bowling performance with everyone chipping in. This is a very good playing XI, we spoke before the start to have the team to take us deep into the tournament and have a team based on the conditions and it’s going well,” a delighted Marsh said.
