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Hridoy, Shanto lead collective effort as Bangladesh post 306/8
Bangladesh batters did well to build useful partnerships throughout their innings against Australia in Pune. Although they lacked a big stand and the fact that most the batters did not convert their starts into a substantial contribution, they rode on a collective batting effort, led by Towhid Hridoy’s 74, before Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored a handy 29 to help Bangladesh post a challenging 306/8 on a pitch that did not offer much for the bowlers.
Josh Hazlewood, as always, bowled tight lines to keep the Bangladesh openers in check after Australia opted to bowl. He conceded only three runs off his first two overs, including a maiden to Tanzid Hasan to start off. Pat Cummins, on the other hand, was slightly erratic with his lines, with as many as seven wides coming off his first two overs. The first four came only in the fifth over when Litton Das pulled a short delivery from Hazlewood. Tanzid got his first boundary by coming down the track to Cummins and driving the ball through cover, followed by a straight push for another four.
The openers, having gained confidence, started dealing in regular boundaries, including three fours for Litton in Sean Abbott’s opening over. The half-century stand, only the second for Bangladesh for the opening wicket in this World Cup, was raised in the ninth over when Tanzid welcomed Mitchell Marsh into the attack with a four over mid on. Bangladesh managed 62 in the first powerplay without losing any wicket – their second highest score in this period in this World Cup, which was also the second highest conceded by Australia and also the fourth time they went wicketless.
The stand finally came to an end in the 12th over when Abbott had Tanzid fending a short ball back to him. Australia went ahead and tried more short balls but Najmul Hossain Shanto was prepared, cracking a couple of pulls off Marsh for boundaries and he also got a four off Travis Head. But the well-set Litton departed soon after, chipping a catch to long on to give Adam Zampa a wicket. There was an immediate transfer of pressure with Zampa and Head bowling well in tandem but Hridoy eased some of it with a six over midwicket off the legspinner. Najmul and Hridoy then came down the track and unsettled the lengths of Marcus Stoinis, collecting boundaries as a result.
Hridoy also too the attack to Head, striking a four and a six, as Bangladesh reached 161/2 at the halfway stage, with the third wicket pair extending their partnership past 50. But it was an abrupt end to the association as a good bit of fielding from Marnus Labuschagne resulted in Najmul being run out for 45. Mahmudullah came out with a positive intent, dealing in sixes, including two in a Marsh over as Bangladesh crossed 200 in the 32nd over. Australia tried to cut off the boundary opportunities but Mahmudullah and Hridoy were busy collecting the singles and maintained a healthy rate until Labuschagne effected a run out again, finding Mahmudullah short of the crease.
Shortly after Hridoy got to his first World Cup fifty, Mushfiqur Rahim sent an Abbott delivery over the midwicket fence as Bangladesh went past 250 in the 42nd over. But Rahim’s stay was cut short by Zampa, who surpassed Brad Hogg’s 21 wickets in 2007 to register the highest tally by an Australian spinner in a World Cup and finished with figures of 2 for 32. Cummins, meanwhile, had an expensive outing as both Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck plenty of boundaries. But Hridoy’s outing ended when he hit a full toss from Stoinis to Labuschagne at deep midwicket. Mehidy helped Bangladesh past 300 before he fell in the final over to Abbott. It was a tidy effort from Australia in the death as they conceded only one boundary in the last four overs.
Australia rested Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc for this game, with Steve Smith returning to the eleven and Abbott also getting an opportunity. Bangladesh brought in Mustafizur Rahman, Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed while Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam and the injured Shakib Al Hasan missed out.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 306/8 in 50 overs (Towhid Hridoy 74, Najmul Hossain Shanto 45; Adam Zampa 2-32, Sean Abbott 2-61) vs Australia.