Aussies Make Mincemeat Of Bangla Tigers

Australia inflicted a crushing nine-wicket defeat on minnows Bangladesh in aGroup A league match in Colombo today to set up a semi-final clash with hostsSri Lanka in the Champions Trophy cricket tournament.

Electing to bat, Bangladesh could manage only 129 runs before being bowledout in 45.2 overs. In response, Australia knocked off 133 for one in just 20.4overs to register their second victory which paved their way to the semi-finalfrom the group.

Openers Matthew Hayden, who remained unbeaten on 67, and Adam Gilchrist puton 113 runs for the first wicket. Gilchrist was adjudged leg before wicket toMohammad Rafique for 54 off just 44 balls with nine fours.

Hayden then completed the formality in the company of his captain RickyPonting who remained unbeaten on nine runs.

Earlier, Bangladesh recovered from a hopeless 13 for four at one stage topost a total in excess of 100. Alok Kapali led a spirited fightback from thelate middle-order, comprising captain Khaled Mashud and Tushar Imran.

However, the total put up by Bangladesh proved highly inadequate and theAustralian openers toyed with the bowling attack to run away with the match.

Hayden did the early damage, repeatedly coming out of his crease to smash thebowling to the area of his choice and picking up easy boundaries. Gilchristfollowed suit, and after struggling to get his timing right initially, launcheda familiar onslaught on the bowling.

Bangladesh bowlers compounded their misery by bowling short of length andmade it quite easy for the two seasoned batsmen.

Hayden completed his half-century off 53 balls with seven fours and a six.Gilchrist followed him on the milestone one ball later, bringing up his fifty injust 44 balls.

Bangladesh won a consolation wicket when Gilchrist was caught leg beforewicket while trying to sweep Rafique to fine leg fence.

Earlier, Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath destroyed the Bangladeshitop-order, which lost two wickets without even a single run on the board.

Gillespie, who was the most successful of Australian bowlers claiming threewickets for 20 runs, sent back opener Al Sahariar and Habibul Bashar with thesecond and fourth balls of his first over.

McGrath dismissed the other opener Javed Omar (4) in the fifth over beforeGillespie struck again in the eighth over to dismiss debutant Mazharul Haque forthree and leave Bangladesh tottering at 13 for four.

Imran and Mashud then got down to resurrect the innings a bit through theirfifth wicket partnership before Lee struck for Australia.

Imran was caught by Michael Bevan off Lee for 27 which contained five hits tothe fence.

Bangladesh batsmen looked much more comfortable against the spin attack ofWarne and Darren Lehmann. In fact, the eight overs Lehmann sent down allowedthem to settle down and play freely. Warne too was tackled with comparative easeand conceded 33 runs off his 10 overs.

But once the pace attack came back in the final overs, Bangladesh inningscrumbled again.

Watson, who was introduced into the attack in the 42nd over, struck with histhird ball when he trapped Khaled Mahmud leg before wicket, a decision for whichthe third umpire had to be consulted.

Kapali, who grew in confidence as he batted along, was out as the ninthwicket, clean bowled by Lee. His 45 contained three boundaries.

PTI