Aus prevail over fighting Tigers

A brave Bangladesh fought like a wounded yet aggressive tiger before going down fighting by three wickets against a mighty Australia in their second ICC World Twenty20 Super 10 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore yesterday.

Entering the game without two of their performing bowlers, suspended by the ICC for illegal bowling actions, and in-form opener Tamim Iqbal who failed to make it due to an upset stomach, the depleted Bangladesh not only put up 156 for five -- their highest total against the Aussies in the shortest format thanks to some magnificent hitting from Mahmudullah Riyad in the final overs -- but also showed the necessary tenacity not to give up without a fight.

On the final count Australia may have raced to 158 for seven with nine balls to spare to stay afloat in the competition, but it was not before having their first scary sight of one Mustafizur Rahman. The lethal young Bangladesh pace bowler made his World Cup debut with two wickets that included Aussie captain Steven Smith and Mitchell Marsh. And both batsmen were comprehensively beaten by his venomous cutters. It could have been a third wicket for him had Mohammad Mithun not dropped Shane Watson at short mid-on.

Tamim's last minute withdrawal served as a blow for Bangladesh for a good start after skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza lost an eighth straight toss and was asked to bat on a very good wicket. Left-handed opener Soumya Sarkar, continuing his disastrous form, he was out for one in the very second over. His departure meant no fireworks from Bangladesh in the first six Powerplay overs, during which they scored 32.

Bangladesh's first sight of aggression came from Sabbir Rahman, who struck two fours in successive deliveries off Hastings but got out to a well-judged catch at mid-on for 12. Mithun started slowly but broke free in the seventh over, smacking Marsh for a four and a massive six over long on. He was the third batsman out, hitting a 22-ball 23, playing a rank long hop straight to mid-wicket.

Shuvagata Hom, one of the three incoming players in a completely different Bangladesh combination, was upgraded for some power-hitting. His cameo of 13 off 10 balls included a six and a four.

Shakib Al Hasan once again played the sheet-anchor role. The left-hander, along with Riyad, accelerated the run-rate with some judicious hitting much to the delight of a Chinnaswamy crowd that was rooting for the Tigers. But the moment Shakib was about to cut loose, he suffered a soft dismissal. His 31 off 25 balls contained three fours and a six. Riyad however was again at his best, hitting an unbeaten 49 off 29 balls that contained seven superbly-timed fours and a six. He was particularly savage in the 19th over bowled by Watson that yielded 17 runs. Riyad, along with Mushfiqur, plundered 50 runs off just 26 balls.

The Aussies started their chase in the right footing with their left-handed opener Usman Khawaja hitting the ball beautifully. Bangladesh lost the plot of getting an early wicket despite giving Mustafizur a go for two overs in the first 10 where Mashrafe tried almost all his options in vain.

Australia raced to 82 for one by the end of the 10th, despite losing Watson to a fine throw from Sabbir. It also forced Mashrafe to bring back Mustafizur in the 13th over and he duly obliged by cutting one back through the legs of Smith.

Once David Warner arrived and hit a four and a flat six, Australia appeared in the mood to finish the match off quickly. But when Khawaja was bowled around his legs by Al-Amin Hossain for 58 off 45 balls with seven fours and a six, and Shakib had Warner hitting a full toss straight back to him, Bangladesh sniffed an outside chance.

With Australia at 121-4 after 15 overs, Bangladesh needed one good over from Saqlain Sajib to make a match of it. But Glenn Maxwell punished him to the tune of 14 runs in that over, and the game as a contest was all but over despite the fall of quick wickets in the end.

The defeat, Bangladesh's second in as many games, has vastly reduced their hopes of a place in the knockout stages. Their next game is against host India at the same venue tomorrow.