Nottingham: Australia continued their march towards the ICC World Cup semifinals Thursday as a tournament-high by opener David Warner (166, 147b, 14×4, 5×6) helped them pile up 381 for the loss of five wickets before they restricted Bangladesh to 333-8 to win by 48 runs.
Australia’s fifth victory in six games put the five-time champions on top of the standings on 10 points. They are looking assured of a top-four finish, probably alongside England, India and New Zealand.
It was a third defeat in six for Bangladesh in the World Cup and though they are still fifth on five points, they will need a run of wins and other results to go their way to make the knockout phase.
Warner and Aaron Finch (53, 51b, 5×4, 2×6) have been by far the most productive opening partnership in this World Cup and they again did their foundation job, eschewing too many high-risk shots to put on 121.
Finch went first for 53, with Warner, still something of a shadow of his pre-ban swashbuckling self, moving solidly to three figures for the second time in the tournament. He then began to connect with some big hits and when he was caught in the deep his tournament-leading aggregate had moved to 447. It was the second-highest score in a World Cup by an Australian – beaten by his own 178 against Afghanistan in 2015.
Usman Khawaja (89, 72b, 10×4) also played an innings of note before Glenn Maxwell (32, 10b, 2×4, 3×6) picked up the pace. His dashing innings ended by a run out that left him glaring furiously at Khawaja. Then Marcus Stoinis (17 n o) and Alex Carey (11 n o) continued the big hitting to push the score far beyond anything previously successfully chased in a World Cup.
“Today was a great foundation for our batting,” said Warner. “I felt a little bit bogged down and frustrated, I kept hitting fielders but I managed to hang in there.”
Having chased down 322 with eight overs to spare Monday against the West Indies, Bangladesh would not have been daunted by the prospect of even what would have been the second-highest successful run chase in one-day cricket history.
Their joyous fans certainly gave all the support they could while Shakib Al Hasan (41, 41b, 4×4) and Tamim Iqbal (62, 74b, 6×4) were looking fluent together.
But when Shakib was dismissed – caught by Warner off Stoinis – and Tamin was bowled by Mitchell Starc to leave them 144-3 at the halfway mark, their hopes were effectively over.
They deserve credit for getting so close, though, as Mushfiqur Rahim (102 n o, 97b, 9×4, 1×6) and Mahmudullah (69, 50b, 5×4, 3×6) put together a lively partnership of 127 runs for the fifth wicket before Nathan Coulter-Nile had Mahmudullah caught on the boundary and bowled Sabbir Rahman for a golden duck.
Rahim reached his century but it was scant consolation as Australia chalked up their 19th victory in 21 ODIs against Bangladesh.
“We had a good partnership at the top of the order but 381 was too much. We have to win every World Cup game now… It is certainly pressure, but we have faith in our boys,” Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said.
Brief scores: Australia 381 for 5 (David Warner 166, Usman Khawaja 89, Aaron Finch 53, Soumya Sarkar 3/58) beat Bangladesh 333 for 8 (Mushfiqur Rahim 102 n o, Mahmudullah 69, Tamim Iqbal 62) by 48 runs.
Agencies
