‘Lazy’ was what Australia’s performance against New Zealand in their ICC Champions Trophy 2017 opener was viewed as.
Steve Smith voiced his disappointment in his bowlers after Australia luckily got away with a point from the game after rain washed out proceedings. It was a rather quick and clinical turnaround from then to their second game against Bangladesh in a must-win clash; one that Smith would’ve been mighty pleased with at the Oval in London on Monday (June 5) as Australia bowled out Bangladesh for 182. However, the disappointment for Australia was the eventual result as the two sides shared a point each as rain intervened and failed to cease before the allocated cut-off time.
Australia were cruising, despite the loss of Aaron Finch early, at 83 for 1 after 16 overs when rain came tumbling down. Australia were 100 runs short with ample overs and were on course to chase down the target. But they were four overs short in order to eke out a result using the Duckworth Lewis Stern (DLS) Method that needed a minimum of 20 overs to be bowled. The chances of them playing out those four overs seemed grim with incessant rain forecast for the next few hours.
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It was an innings that was very unlike David Warner, who en route his unbeaten 40 off 40, reached the landmark of being the fastest Australian to 4000 runs. He started off cautiously with Finch against Mustafizur Rahman and Mashrafe Mortaza. Gradually, Warner started attacking with the odd boundary and kept rotating the strike effectively as Australia ended ten overs with 57 on the board, well ahead the required rate. However, persistent rain meant that Australia were deprived of a crucial point that would have had them in strong contention for a top-two finish. The possibility of which now, looks bleak.
Earlier, Adam Zampa was included in Australia’s playing XI in place of John Hastings for the must-win clash. But the specialist legspinner had to wait a whole 34 overs on his maiden international outing in England. Bangladesh were handily placed when drinks were taken after the 34th over with 141 on the board and six wickets in hand. Zampa, however, struck off his second ball, tossing it up enough to tempt Sabbir Rahman into the drive that went straight to Smith at cover. After a wicket maiden to start things off, Mahmudullah chopped on in his next over as Zampa had two in two just as a light drizzle ensued.
Play went on uninterrupted as a stoic Tamim Iqbal approached what would have been his first century against Australia. However, he whipped Mitchell Starc straight to long on for 95 off 114, five short of what would have been his second century on the trot in the competition. Bangladesh didn’t last long after, being bowled out for 182 in 44.3 overs as Starc cleaned up the tail, with the Asian team losing their last four wickets for a solitary run. He picked up three wickets in five deliveries in the 43rd over for a triple wicket maiden, just missing out on a hat-trick, before cleaning up Mehedi Hasan to end with figures of 4 for 29, validating Smith’s ploy of changing ends for Zampa, who had success at the other, and replacing him with Starc.
Tamim was spectacular once again at the top, protecting his end and building partnerships with the incoming batsmen. The first signs of his attack was him stepping down to Josh Hazlewood early on to hit him straight past his batting partner. While yo-yoing between the roles of the aggressor and protector, he had luck on his side as a few miscues landed safely. That said, he did rather well to dispatch the opposition bowlers into the stands despite the Australian bowlers heeding to their captain’s call from their tournament opener and pulling up their socks rather ably.
Hazlewood, Pat Cummins were as clinical as ever, bowling testing lines and lengths around the offstump that Bangladesh’s batsmen found hard to put away. Moises Henriques struck in his second over to pick up the vital wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim who wasn’t allowed to settle into his innings. Shakib Al Hasan was handed a life when on 11 with Glenn Maxwell putting down a straightforward catch at backward point. Shakib there on, went on to add 69 with Tamim – the only significant stand in the innings – en route 29 which was his highest score in his five ODIs in England.
Smith opted to go for Travis Head instead of Zampa early on given the presence of two left-handers at the crease and to spin the ball outside the offstump. It was a move that paid off as Head trapped Shakib leg before. The all-rounder reviewed, but the on-field umpire’s decision was upheld. Bangladesh managed only 60 more before being bowled out as the rain found the right time to come down harder in London.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 182 in 44.3 overs (Tamim Iqbal 95, Shakib Al Hasan 29; Mitchell Starc 4-29, Adam Zampa 2-13) vs Australia 83/1 in 16 overs (David Warner 40*, Steven Smith 22*; Rubel Hossain 1-21). No result due to rain.
