Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith maintain the uncommon distinction of being the one abroad pair to symbolize each the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises from Pune. The duo marked their return to the town in model by serving to Australia make a mockery of the 307-run goal set by Bangladesh of their final World Cup 2023 group recreation.
Riding on their unbroken 175-run affiliation – with Marsh’s mammoth 177 being the star act – Australia overhauled the goal with greater than 5 overs and eight wickets to spare.
The victory – Australia’s seventh in a row – was not sufficient for the five-time champion to complete second within the league stage, however will maintain it in good stead forward of Thursday’s semifinal in opposition to South Africa.
Despite Travis Head’s tried heave off Taskin Ahmed leading to his woodwork getting disturbed within the third over, Marsh and the in-form David Warner stored the chase in management. While Marsh was utilizing his lengthy deal with on a batting paradise on the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium to the delight of 20,000-odd spectators, Warner focused on rotating the strike.
Soon after he crossed his fifty, Warner chipped Mustafizur Rahman to stand-in captain Najmul Hasan Shanto in opposition to the run of play. In got here Smith and seamlessly continued his lengthy hit, as witnessed within the nets the day past.
None of the 5 bowlers employed by Bangladesh appeared to pose any inquiries to both of the 2 as Marsh and Smith stored punishing them. Marsh’s power-hitting rubbed onto Smith and he slog-swept Nasum Ahmed’s medium-pace for a six. The younger pacer had essentially the most troublesome day as he conceded 85 runs in 10 overs.
Earlier, the Australian fielders got here up with just a few essential run outs to maintain the Bangla batters in examine.
Its tempo pack – with out Mitchell Starc, who was changed by Sean Abbott – continued to seek out it troublesome to strike within the PowerPlay. But, one more magnificent spell by Adam Zampa mixed nicely with Aussie fielding to tug issues again.
As a outcome, Towhid Hridoy scored the one fifty for Bangladesh regardless of all of the top-seven batters getting off to begins. At 239 for 4 after 40 overs, Bangladesh was in with an opportunity of setting an imposing whole. But Zampa’s three overs thereafter pegged again Bangladesh because it added solely 67 within the final 10.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com