By SABC Sport
21st June 2024
Captain Pat Cummins claimed the seventh T20 World Cup hat-trick as Australia held Bangladesh to 140 for eight in Antigua.
The second rain delay ended the match with Australia on 100 for two in reply, 28 ahead of the required DLS target.
Mitchell Starc gave Australia a flying start, bowling opener Tanzid Hasam Tamim without scoring off the third ball.
Bangladesh rebuilt with Najmul Hossain Shanton (41 from 36 balls) and Litton Kumer Das ((16) adding 58 in eight overs before Adam Zampa bowled them both and caught Rishad Hossain off Glenn Maxwell to leave them 84 for four.
Tawhid Hridoy steered Bangladesh towards a respectable total and they had reached 122 for five before Cummins grabbed two wickets in successive balls at the end of the 18th over.
Australia's Test captain returned to dismiss Hridoy for 40 at the start of the final over, completing the second hat-trick by an Australian in a T20 World Cup after Brett Lee - also against Bangladesh - in 2007.
David Warner and Travis Head made a quick start in reply, reaching 64 without loss in the seventh over before the rain started.
Head was bowled three balls after they returned for 31 by Rishad Hossain who trapped captain Mitch March leg before for one in his next over.
But David Warner, who clubbed 53 from 35 balls with three sixes, and Maxwell (14) calmed any nerves and ensured Australia were well ahead of the required run rate when the rain returned.
Australia face Afghanistan in their next pool match on Saturday when Bangladesh face India.