Tamim Iqbal
Tamim Iqbal

Champions Trophy: Australia v Bangladesh


Australia were denied a crucial win in the Champions Trophy as rain washed out their match with Bangladesh.

Match scores (The Oval)

 

Bangladesh: 182 (44.3 overs. Iqbal 95, Hasan 29; Starc 4-29, Zampa 2-13) 

Australia: 83-1 (16.0 overs. Warner 40* Smith 22*; Hossain 1-21)

No result

Match report


Australia were denied a crucial win in the Champions Trophy as rain washed out their second match in a row and saved Bangladesh from elimination.

Bangladesh, who had to avoid defeat to keep alive any hopes of qualification from Group A, were skittled for 182 but Australia's likely stroll to victory was curtailed by bad weather at 83 for one.

Their frustration at the Oval was perhaps amplified given they appeared just four more overs away from securing an all-important two points.

Regulations state 20 overs must be completed to activate the Duckworth-Lewis method, which would almost certainly have ruled in Australia's favour, but only 16 were played meaning the spoils were shared.

It leaves Australia's chances of progress hanging in the balance after their first game against New Zealand was also halted by rain while Bangladesh stay in contention, just, despite their opening loss to England.

As well as the elements, Bangladesh have Tamim Iqbal to thank after he followed up his 128 against England with 95 here, one of only three in his side to make double figures and the only one to pass 30.

Tamim eventually fell to the imperious Mitchell Starc, who claimed three wickets in four balls and finished with four for 29.

No less impressive was David Warner later passing 4,000 one-day international runs in his 93rd innings, the fastest Australian to do so and third fastest player in history.

Bangladesh had elected to bat but their display failed to justify Mashrafe Mortaza's decision as only Shakib Al Hasan (29) and Mehedi Hasan Miraz (14) joined Tamim in making any contribution of note.

Soumya Sarkar (three) was the first man out after edging Josh Hazlewood behind and Tamim was fortunate not to follow when two mistimed pulls both flew upward but landed safe.

Imrul Kayes (six) soon slapped Pat Cummins' wide delivery into the hands of Aaron Finch before the potentially destructive Mushfiqur Rahim was pinned lbw by Moises Henriques on nine. Replays suggested Rahim had actually nicked the ball into his pad but mysteriously he chose not to review.

Bangladesh became bogged down and their only ray of light was Tamim, who hit a six and two fours before sealing his own half-century in the 24th over, with his side 90 for three.

But his partners continued to topple as Al Hasan fell lbw, followed by Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudullah, who were both bamboozled by leg-spinner Adam Zampa, each on eight.

Tamim finally succumbed five runs short of his 100, top-edging Starc to a scrambling Hazlewood at long-leg, and the floodgates duly opened as Starc rolled through Mortaza, Rubel Hossain and Miraz to give Australia a very achievable target.

With heavy rain forecasted, Australia were expected to race out of the blocks but Warner and Finch both showed restraint to reach 40 unbeaten after seven overs.

Bangladesh's sole wicket arrived when Rubel pinged one back onto Finch's pad but Steve Smith quickly restored order, a lifted drive through the covers taking Australia past 50.

Other than the darkening clouds, there was little to trouble the chasing side but both teams appeared only too aware of the approaching 20-over mark.

Bangladesh took their time while Smith seemed even to turn down run-scoring opportunities in a bid to speed play up.

It was to no avail, however, as rain meant the match was stopped at 18.43pm and finally abandoned around two and a half hours later.

Match reaction


Australia captain Steve Smith: "It's a little bit frustrating not to get a result in.

"The groundsmen perhaps could have shown a bit more urgency with it being a big tournament, but I think they did the best job they could.

"The umpires said it was an 8.30pm start so you have to do what they say."

Smith on the umpires taking the teams off: "Of course I didn't want to go off.

"I was happy to keep playing through the rain. But the umpires are there to make a decision.

"There was a drinks break at the end of that over which probably didn't help. If the game had carried on perhaps they would have had a different opinion. But to be fair it was raining quite heavily."

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza on the outcome of a no-result: "In today's match Australia was far ahead of us, but in the last match against New Zealand, Australia were in the same position [as us] so you can't do anything with the weather.

"Both teams are now in the situation that Australia has to win against England and we have a great chance against New Zealand to go through so let's see what happens."

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