Photo : Collected
Bangladesh were handed a crushing eight-wicket defeat against formidable Australia in their last match of the ongoing ICC World Cup at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Saturday.
The defeat means Bangladesh finished at eighth position among the participating nations in the World Cup 2023. Bangladesh were out of semi-final contention and went into the contest against Australia seeking a win to cement a top-eight spot to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Despite the defeat in their last league match, Bangladesh look on course to be qualified for the Champions Trophy in 2025. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, failed to finish in the bracket of top eight and missed out on qualification.
Australia needed to chase down 307 in 23 overs for Sri Lanka to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025, but that did not happen as Australia took 44.4 overs to win the match.
However, the scenario would change if the Dutch could spring an almighty upset over India today.
In this year’s edition of the World Cup, Bangladesh could manage just four points from nine matches. They started the tournament with a convincing six-wicket win over Afghanistan, but later have lost six matches on the trot that ensured their early exit from the showpiece event.
All-rounder Mitch Marsh clobbered a brisk 132-ball 177 as Australia clinched their seventh straight victory with an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, despite missing their captain Shakib al-Hasan, were able to post a commanding 8-307, their highest score of the tournament.
But Bangladesh’s scores proved insufficient as big-hitting Marsh single-handedly destroyed Bangladesh’s spin-heavy attack as the Aussies reached down the target with 32 balls to spare.
Bangladesh seemed to cross 350 total at one stage but they lost some key wickets in the halfway of the innings, particularly three run outs that changed the complexion of the innings.
Bangladesh stand-in captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto also said their two run-outs changed the scenario on the game.
“I think for me the two run outs were crucial. The way we started was good but after the two run outs, we lost momentum. If we score 340-350, it could have been different. We did not bowl well in the middle overs (the spinners especially).” Shanto said after the match.
Shanto also admitted their could not play their best cricket throughout the World Cup.
“The fast bowlers bowled well. We need to improve in the middle overs. We did not play our best at the World Cup as a team, in both bowing and batting. Want to look at what we can do better moving forward. Mahmudullah batted really well in the World Cup. Shakib bowled really well in a couple of matches. It is not about individual performances. We will look back at all nine matches and see where we have to improve as a team.” Shanto added.
Bangladesh pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed drew the first blood in Australian innings by castling Travis Head early during Australia’s chase of 307 but Bangladesh bowlers later failed to carry the momentum with fellow opener David Warner (53) and Marsh (177 not out) put on a 120-run partnership for the second wicket before the five-time world champions comfortably got home in 44.4 overs.
Marsh reached his third one-day international century in 87 deliveries and ended with an unbeaten destructive 177 with 17 fours and nine sixes. He shattered Bangladesh’s last match win dream with a match-winning 175-run stand with Steve Smith (63 not out).
Earlier, Towhid Hridoy struck his maiden half-century of the tournament on his way to 74 as Bangladesh finished with 306-8 from 50 overs.
Bangladesh's top-order batsmen all made sound starts after being put into bat first with Tanzid Hasan (36), Litton Das (36), Najmul Hossain Shanto (45) and Mahmudullah (32) were comfortable in Pune’s batting-friendly condition.
Marnus Labuschagne made some fine work in the field with two run-outs while Leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2-32) snared Mushfiqur Rahim to bag his 22nd victim and emerge as the top wicket-taker.
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