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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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