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Old Trafford , 25th June - Australia made light work of the 139 runs required to win against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, scoring the runs without loosing a wicket in just 19 overs.

 

Gilchrist and Hayden scored their 12th 100 partnership in one day internationals, both ending the day on 66 each. The ten wicket win was the sixth time a team has beaten Bangladesh without loosing a wicket. The Tigers are improving but they have a long way to go as today's defeat has shown. Match Scorecard

 

The Australian openers looked in commanding form, both obviously delighted to spend as much time as possibly out in the middle. It was Gilchrist's 42nd 50 and Hayden's 26th half century, passing 4000 runs in one day internationals in the process.

 

Andrew Symonds was named man of the match for the second game running following his performance with the ball earlier, returning with figures of 5 for 18, they were his best bowling figures, taking five wickets in an innings for the first time in international cricket.

 

It was a steady start from Australia today, the second meeting between the two teams in this year's Nat West tournament. Lee struggled a little in his first spell following his superb performance against England on Thursday night, bowling no balls and wides and failing to capture the magic of last week.

 

It was Lee however who took the first two wickets of the match trapping Omar (1 for 13) infront of the wicket for three runs and Imran caught behind for four, 10 runs later. Despite the two wickets Lee wasn't at his best.

With the introduction of Ashraful, things ticked over slowly for the Bangladesh Tigers until the 11th over.

 

Following a dot ball, Ashraful attempted an aggressive hook shot, he only managed to sky the ball but such was Brett Lee's pace, the ball went over the wicket keeper's head for six. The very next ball Lee had what he thought was revenge when Gillespie caught Ashraful at mid on only to turn around and see umpire Lloyd's signalling a no-ball. Ashraful then repeated his six in exactly the same manner, top edge behind Gilchrist. A pull produced two runs before he again pulled Lee for four, scoring 20 runs off the 11th over and 30 runs in the last two. Bangladesh were recovering quickly at 2 for 55.

 

24th over Symonds turns things around for Australia taking two wickets in two balls. The first yorking Sharif Nafees for a solid 47, the tiger playing all around a full delivery. Ponting then brought the field in and Habibul Bashar was stuck to the crease, the ball taking the faintest of edges and Gilchrist did the rest behind the stumps. It was a clever bit of captaincy from Ponting deciding to field at silly point to apply the pressure on the new batsman. The plan worked and with the ball turning Symonds had taken his second wicket. Bangladesh were struggling on 4 for 113 following a 90 runs partnership between Nafees and Ashraful.

 

Symonds chipped in again with another wicket in the 28th over following tight spin bowling from Hogg and himself. Symonds at this early stage in the match was getting a prodigious amount of spin, so much so he clean bowled Aftab Ahmed through the gate for only five runs, Bangladesh were left reeling at 5 for 124. Ashraful completed his 6th one day international 50 from 71 deliveries. After a brisk start that included two sixes off Lee, he bedded down and appeared to play a more thoughtful innings.

 

With the score on 137, Hogg made another breakthrough bowling Mashud around his legs, hitting leg stump half way up following a pretty poor cross batted shot. It wasn't necessary and vital to keep Ahraful company at the other end. Hogg's first wicket of the day and Mashud falling for only four runs off 12 deliveries.

 

Symonds took a great caught and bowled in the very next over to send the little dynamite back to the dressing room, gaining his fourth wicket of the innings at the same time. Ashraful has played well against the Australian's in their two internationals and despite appearing to play by numbers had settled down in the middle part of the innings today. Playing a forward defensive shot that appeared to get away from him, it went to the right of a diving Symonds who held out his right arm to take a superb one handed catch. Ashraful fell for 58 off 86 balls and Bangladesh were 7 for 139.

 

Without adding another run to the score Islam made a suicidal effort to dance down the wicket and Hogg had him stumped way out of his ground for two runs, Gilchrist completing the stumping. Three balls later Hogg struck again, Martyn taking the catch at first slip. Mortaza was a little unlucky, the ball caught the inside edge onto his pads making its way through to Martyn moving forward to complete the catch at slip. Bangladesh were now 9 for 139.

 

Symonds completed the rout two balls later clean bowling Rafique for a duck. It was his fifth wicket of the innings and his best return in one day international cricket, 5 for 18. Between them, the spinners took eight wickets and totally transformed the game. Hogg finished his spell with a return of 3 for 29 off 9 overs. The last eight wickets fell for 28 runs in 71 balls, the last five for only two runs. A collapse of monumental proportions. image courtesy of bbc

 

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