Australia prevail over Bangladesh in Run Fest

Trent Bridge: In a match where 714-runs were scored — the most ever in a World Cup game — defending champion Australia climbed to the top of the points table (10 points from six games), with David Warner (166,147b,14×4,5×6) batting brilliantly and propelling their team to an excellent 48-run win over the fighting Bangladesh team at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Thursday.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Australian skipper Aaron Finch 53 (51b,5×4,2×6) and the man in form David Warner (166) gave their team a good start by adding 121-runs for the opening wicket.

Usman Khawaja (89,72b,10×4) joined the party and along with south-paw Warner added 191-runs for the second wicket which enabled Australia to pile up a good total.

Glenn Maxwell (32) and M. Stoinis (17 n.o) added vital runs in the fag end of the innings to take Australia to their highest ever one-day international total of 381 for five in 50 overs. Fast bowler Soumya Sarkar impressed for Bangladesh by taking three for 58.

Bangladesh’s spirited reply, Rahim’s century

The fighting Bangladesh team inspired by a well-compiled unbeaten hundred by Mushfiqur Rahim 102 n.o (97b,9×4,1×6) fell short of the target by 48-runs. Tamim Iqbal (62,74b,6×4) and Shakib Al Hasan (41,41b,4×4) added 79-runs for the second wicket. Bangladesh lost the wickets of Tamim Iqbal and Linton Das (20) in succession and were reduced to 175 for four in 29.2 overs.

Inspired batting by Rahim and Mahmudullah 69 (50b,5×4,3×6) raised some hopes when the pair added 128-runs for the fifth wicket. After the fall of Mahmudullah off Coulter-Nile, Bangladesh faltered and ended up scoring 333 for eight in 50 overs. Mitchell Starc impressed with his sustained bowling by taking two for 55 and was well-supported by Coulter-Nile (two for 58) and Marcus Stoinis (two for 54) and Australia won by 48-runs.

David Warner was chosen as the Player of the Match, who scored his sixteenth ODI century and his highest score in World Cup matches. Australia lead the points table with 10 points from six games, followed by New Zealand with 9 points from five games. Hosts England are placed third with 8 points from 5 games and India are in the fourth place with 7 points from 4 games. Bangladesh have 5 points from six games and are in the fifth position.

The Scores: Australia 381 for five in 50 overs (David Warner 166, Aaron Finch 53, Usman Khawaja 89, Glenn Maxwell 32, Soumya Sarkar three for 58) bt Bangladesh 333 for eight in 50 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 102n.o, Mahmudullah 69, Tamim Iqbal 62, Shakib Al Hasan 41, Linton Das 20, Mitchell Starc two for 55, Natan Coulter-Nile two for 54, Marcus Stoinis two for 54).