Journalism of Courage
In-from opening batsman Usman Khawaja struck an impressive half century as Australia overcame a mighty scare due to a middle-order batting collapse to eventually beat Bangladesh by three wickets and bounce back in their World Twenty20 campaign.
Openers Usman Khawaja (58) and Watson (21) got Australia off to a good start, sharing a stand of 62 in 44 deliveries before the latter was run out. Khawaja was bowled by Al-Amin Hossain in the 14th over having struck seven fours and a six in a 45-ball knock that gave Australia a solid platform, although they had the same sort of middle-order slump they suffered in the first game against New Zealand.
Smith, out for six against the Kiwis, was bowled by Mustafizur Rahman for 14. David Warner (17) was next to fall and was soon followed by Mitchell Marsh (six).
Glenn Maxwell then scored a brisk 26 before being stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan. All-rounder John Hastings, brought in by Australia for left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, was dropped on nought by Hossain and finally went for three when he was caught at mid-wicket by Soumya Sarkar. By then Australia needed five runs off the last two overs and James Faulkner and Peter Nevill saw them through to a far-from-convincing win that lifted them to third in the group behind New Zealand and Pakistan but ahead of India.
Earlier, Bangladesh made a poor start as they were reduced to 26 for 2 in the sixth over but a fine contribution from Shakib Al Hasan (33 off 25 balls) and a late flurry from Mahmudullah took them to a fighting total in their crucial match. Bangladesh batsmen struggled for most part of their innings and they shook off the shackles only in the last five overs with Mahmudullah taking charge.
Adam Zampa was pick of the bowlers for Australia, picking 3/24 and not allowing the opposition to cut loose in the middle overs. Yes, he did go for runs but was brave enough to back his plans in the middle.
After the mid-innings collapse, Mahmudullah steadied the ship for Bangladesh and with Shakib took them over the 150-run mark. added 52 runs from the final five overs -- scoring 15 and 17 runs in the 18th and 19th overs -- to cross the 150 mark after they were placed at 104 for 4 at the end of the 15th over.
Bangladesh were denied a strong start with Shane Watson claiming the wickets of opener Soumya Sarkar (1) and one-down Sabbir Rahman (12). A 37-run stand between the other opener Mohammad Mithun (23) and all-rounder Shakib repaired the Bangladesh innings a bit but the Australians bowlers did not allow their opponents to score freely. Shakib, for a brief period, threatened to take the fight against the Australians with a few lusty blows, including a four and six off Adam Zampa in consecutive deliveries, but Bangladesh batsmen were found wanting to get the big shots.
