T20 World Cup 2024: Australia vs Bangladesh, 44th Match - Who Said What?

Australia got off to a flying start in the Super 8 phase of the T20 World Cup 2024, hammering Bangladesh by 28 runs (via DLS method) on Friday, June 21. Australia, who won all their matches in the group stage, elected to bowl first at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Although the start was delayed due to rain, Mitchell Starc ensured a thrilling start with a wicket in the first over. Tanzid Hasan was dismissed for a duck on the third ball of the innings. Josh Hazlewood followed it up with a maiden over and Bangladesh were eventually reduced to 8-1 in three overs.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Liton Das steadied the ship with a fifty-plus partnership, but leg-spinner Adam Zampa broke the partnership in the ninth over. In the very next over, Glenn Maxwell sent Rishad Hossain packing and the Bangla Tigers completely lost the plot.  

In the end, a brilliant knock by 23-year-old Towhid Hridoy (40 off 27 balls) gave Bangladesh a respectable score on the board - 140/8. But it was Pat Cummins who grabbed the limelight with maiden hat-trick of the ongoing World Cup. Cummins got the wicket of Mahmudullah and Mehedi Hasan in the 18^th over and completed the massive feat with the wicket of Hridoy in the first ball of the last over.

David Warner leads the charge with bat

With the threat of rain looming, Australia had to ensure they got off to a strong start. David Warner and Travis Head did the needful as the duo added 64 runs in 6.2 overs, before the rain again appeared to spoil the fun. The game resumed after a brief halt and Bangladesh managed to get the first breakthrough with the wicket of Head.

Mitchell Marsh was also dismissed after a couple of overs but Australia were well ahead in the game. Rain interrupted again in the 12th over and the match had to be abandoned as the drizzle showed no sign of abating. However, Warner and Maxwell ensured they were 21 runs ahead of the DLS score. Australia registered a comfortable eight-wicket win. 

Mitchell Marsh, Winning Captain said

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. I'm loving it (on captaincy), great team to lead, great group filled with experience, the support staff have been excellent and the families are here as well. Have another game tomorrow and we're looking forward to it.”

Najmul Shanto, Losing Captain said

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. I'm doing alright so far, enjoying playing here and 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. Looking for a good show against India in our next match.”

Pat Cummins, Player of the Match said

I had no idea (on the hat-trick), then saw when it came up on the screen. Set batter in, playing the innings, you never know how it'll go about, so that was a big wicket (on Hridoy's wicket) and happy to have restricted them. Few (hat-tricks) in juniors, never for Australia. Agar and Ellis, on the bench, have hat-tricks, joined their club. It's pretty awesome to tick that off. Good club to be part of. Fairly polished performance, the goal was to win and we did well with the run-rate, we'll need to continue with the momentum going ahead in the Super 8s.”