ICC World Cup 2019: Match 26, Australia vs Bangladesh – Who Said What

Australia carried on with their good form in the 2019 World Cup. The Aaron Finch-led unit beat Bangladesh by 48 runs at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Most importantly, they claimed the top spot in the points table with 10 points. The Tigers needed the victory to make themselves a strong contender for the semis and after the loss, they are in with a must-win scenario in the rest of their games.

Aussies dominate the Tigers

The Aussies dominated for the most part of their innings after winning the toss and electing to bat. David Warner and Aaron Finch didn’t allow the Tigers’ bowlers to settle and put on 121 in 20.5 overs. Soumya Sarkar dismissed the Aussie skipper for 53, but Warner and Usman Khawaja didn’t allow any pressure to build. The duo smothered the bowlers to a 192-run stand and put the Aussies in command.

Warner racked up his second century in the mega event in 110 balls and then went on to get 166 with 14 fours and five sixes. Sarkar got rid of him in the 45th over, but by then, the score was 313. Khawaja hit 10 fours to a 72-ball 89 after which he became Sarkar’s third victim. Glenn Maxwell didn’t show any mercy and pummeled the bowling to a 10-ball 32, taking his team to a formidable 381 in 50 overs.

Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah’s efforts went in vain

The Tigers’ run-chase started in a horrendous manner as Soumya Sarkar was run out in the fourth over. Thereafter, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan tried to build some momentum with a 70-run stand, but the required rate kept climbing, much to their discomfort. Marcus Stoinis got rid of the dangerous Shakib, who got 41. At the other end, Tamim brought his half-century and looked settled in the middle.

Unfortunately, Mitchell Starc castled him for 62. Adam Zampa trapped Liton Das for 20. Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim strained every sinew and cobbled a stand of 127. In a quest to up the ante, Mahmudullah perished after scoring 69 off 50. Sabbir Rahman, playing his first game, couldn’t open his account. Mushfiqur got to his century off 95 deliveries even as the Tigers ended on 333 in 50 overs.

David Warner, the Player of the Match, said

Every time there was a partnership going, there were a few butterflies. We have been pretty consistent. We have guys who have WC experience. Having good partnerships with bat and ball is important. Few of the changes were forced. The spinner was left out as well for a few games. It also depends on the wicket. We always pride ourselves on our fielding.

Mashrafe Mortaza, the Bangladesh captain, said

I think we gave away 40-50 on the field. Otherwise, it could have been a different chase. Credit to Warner and other Australian batsmen. This is the best we have. A few newcomers have come in. To be honest, we have been positive. Soumya got out run out and Shakib-Tamim did well but 381 was tough. Every game we need to win and wait for others as well.

Aaron Finch, the Australian captain, said

Obviously, it’s a great achievement (to equal Adam Gilchrist’s 16 hundreds). For us, it’s about getting the 2 points and moving onto the next game at Lord’s. I think you always keep wickets in hand in ODIs. It’s the way we play. We don’t intentionally not go after it on purpose. You have to respect the new ball. If you get off to a flier, you go ahead with the momentum you have. The bowlers bowled well to us in patches. It’s about knocking it around and try to target 6-8 an over after that in the middle overs.

You have to adapt to the conditions, and it’s about momentum after that. If you get off to a flier, it’s about assessing:  (1) how many wickets you lost, and  (2) how to go about the middle overs. It was a little slow, the wicket, but credit to the way Bangladesh fought. Mushfiqur played a fantastic inning. It was a grind for the bowlers, very difficult to get wickets out there, but it was great to get those two points in the end.