Australia culminated their group-stage campaign with a clinical victory against Bangladesh, chasing down their highest-ever total in World Cup history with remarkable ease. Mitchell Marsh’s outstanding knock with the bat propelled Australia to yet another victory while Steven Smitth and David Warner assisted to secure an 8 wicket win.
The Bangladeshi’s led by Towhid Hridoy resilient 74 and contributions from Najmul Shanto and Tanzid Hasan, concluded with a total of 306 for 8 in the opening 50 overs. However, their spirited effort was eclipsed by Australia’s dominant pursuit. The batting surface appeared favorable right from the start, ensuring that even if Bangladesh had posted a total exceeding 400, it might not have posed a formidable challenge for Australia.
The run chase began with an early setback for Australia as Travis Head departed within the powerplay, briefly lifting Bangladesh’s spirits. However, Mitch Marsh and David Warner swiftly took charge, relentlessly striking boundaries and skillfully rotating the strike.
Their partnership applied consistent pressure on the Bangladeshi bowlers. While Warner achieved a notable half-century, Marsh went further, notching his second century of the World Cup and finishing unbeaten at an extraordinary 177, embellished with 17 fours and 9 sixes. Subsequently, Steve Smith, returning after missing the previous game, added stability to the chase, securing his second fifty in the tournament. Although not as flamboyant in boundary-hitting, his calculated singles and doubles kept the scoreboard ticking.
This accomplished run-chase not only secured victory for Australia but also instilled heightened confidence within their camp, setting the stage for a semi-final showdown with South Africa.
Marsh’s monumental unbeaten 177 not only secured Australia’s historic run-chase but also stands as the third-highest individual score for Australia in World Cup history. Mitchell Marsh’s exceptional performance, backed by Steven Smith, showcased Australia’s dominating strength at chasing down targets in the tournament, setting the stage for further triumphs in the upcoming stages of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Chief Scores:
Bangladesh – 306 for 8 in 50 overs (Towhid Hridoy 74, Najmul Shanto 45, Tanzid Hasan 36, Adam Zampa 2 for 32, Sean Abbott 2 for 61, Marcus Stoinis 1 for 45)
Australia – 307 for 2 in 44.4 overs (Mitchell Marsh 177*, Steven Smith 63*, David Warner 53, Taskin Ahmed 1 for 61, Mustafizur Rahman 1 for 76, Mahedi Hasan 0 for 38)
