Bangladesh began their Super Eight campaign of the 2024 ICC Twenty20 World Cup with a 28-run loss to Australia (DLS method) in a weather-disrupted tie in Antigua on Thursday.
The defeat has dented the hopes that Bangladesh had regarding a last-four berth, as they now need to beat both India and Afghanistan in their next two games to stay in contention.
On Friday, following a delayed toss due to rain, Bangladesh were put in to bat聽 first, and after their openers failed again as Tanzid Hasan Tamim was bowled for a three-ball duck and Liton Das struggled for a constipated 25-ball 16, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto鈥檚 36-ball 41 and Towhid Hridoy鈥檚 28-ball 40 saw them set for a total beyond 150, but a hat-trick for Pat Cummins at the death鈥擜ustralia鈥檚 second against Bangladesh in T20 World Cup history鈥攕aw the Tigers end on 140-8, that too courtesy of a seven-ball 13 from Taskin Ahmed.
Rain delayed the Australia chase as well, and when they began, David Warner gave a catch to Towhid at cover point in the second over off Tanzim Hasan Sakib, but he failed to hold on, and there was no looking back for the Aussies from there.
Warner added 65 runs with Travis Head off just 41 balls before leg-spinner Rishad Hossain bowled him for 31.
Rishad then also trapped Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh lbw, but Warner reached his fifty off just 34 balls, and with Glenn Maxwell鈥檚 six-ball 14, took Australia to 100 in just 11.2 overs when the rain came pouring.
No further action was possible due to the incessant rain, resulting in Australia claiming a victory as they were 28 runs ahead of the DLS par score at that point.
After the game, Shanto was left lamenting their lack of firepower with the bat as they produced a subpar total.
鈥業 think as a player we had to adjust every wicket, and the wicket looks very good, but we couldn鈥檛 execute with that new ball, especially in the powerplay. And we couldn鈥檛 finish in the last five-six overs as we lost too many wickets. So, if it ended well, we could have scored a proper 160 or 170,鈥� said Shanto.
Shanto鈥檚 Aussie counterpart Cummins was glad with the polished performance of his team..
鈥業 thought tonight overall was a fairly polished performance, which is kind of what you want in super eights. Obviously, two points, but also to get a good run rate,鈥� he said.
Bangladesh will take on India in their second game of the Super Eight stage at the same venue today at 8:30pm Bangladesh Standard Time.
