Australia crush Bangladesh by 9 wickets

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There's nothing more dangerous than an Australian cricket team with wounded pride (just compare the 2007 Ashes to the 2005 Ashes). So I'm not sure the other teams at the World Cup will be thanking Zimbabwe for beating Australia in the first game - it's put a fire in Ricky Ponting's belly that could spell trouble for the rest of the tournament.

If Bangladesh were hoping for a repeat of their Cardiff upset, it was not to be as Australia defeated Bangladesh by 9 wickets with 6 overs to spare. The Bangladesh innings never got started, stifled by passive batting and canny short-of-a-length bowling. Brett Lee took the first ever Twenty20 international hattrick and Stuart Clark was one tailend wicket away from a hattrick of his own. Bangladesh's total of 8 for 123 was never going to threaten.

Matt Hayden blistered 73 off 48 balls and is in devastating form - even Adam Gilchrist stands in his shadow at the moment (although his 43 off 28 balls was not too shabby either). The match ended half an hour early which is good for us Aussies staying up past midnight. Next we play Pakistan on Tuesday night which should be more competitive. Although I wouldn't worry too much about the Pakistan bowlers hitting the stumps if the following footage is anything to go by.

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Posted by JC on Mon 17 Sep

8 comments

Surely, the wounded Aussies played like vengeful marauding demons, and simply mauled the pint-sized Bangla boys. (Hayden in full flow with his pumped up chest looks like an alien or android!! Gilly is more 'human' and believable, despite the 4 towering sixes he sent soaring over the park)

Quite, unassuming and always smiling, Stuart Clark was all guile and brains. Lee's yorkers were unplayable probably by any team, not just the minnows. But, Bracken I guess is due for a thrashing by somebody in this 20-20. He rarely moved the ball, bowled at military medium pace only... and is getting wickets because of the pressure imposed by Lee and Clark. Bracken is just dead straight. You hit, I miss types. Wait until he faces Mr Sanath Jayasurya... It will need the guile of Clark to stop the Lankans.

Now, Thursday the 20th will see one helluva match (Aussies vs Lankans)...

Cheers
Mahesh

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Posted by Mahesh on 2007-09-17 13:26:20

Err Mahesh, Bracken has a great record against the Sri lankans, the best of the Aussi bowlers i think. And it was Bracken (not Clark) who was on a hat trick at the end of the Bangladesh innings.

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Posted by MT on 2007-09-17 17:51:49

Mahesh not sure you were watching the same game as I was. Most of the Lee's bowling and other Australians were short of a length, which the Bangladesh never looked comfortable with. As for the batting it was never a contest with such a small target.

The one thing thats sort of sad in a way (and we had the same problem in the ODI world cup) never getting to see the full team bat. Its the Gilchrist/Hayden Batting show, by the time one of them gets out the result is guarenteed.

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Posted by Andrew on 2007-09-17 18:28:30

Great game the Aussies won. We totally blitzed it. Not to go off the subject but I just wanna say that Twenty20 is an entertaining form of game but that match between Australia and Bangladesh was pretty boring. I mean, sure I'll watch Australia thrash the opposition any day but can't the ICC make it a little bit more exciting? (Like the stump mike being turned up, heh, heh, heh) And how about those ear pieces? They were fun (oh, and great commentry from Adam Gilchrist in the Twenty20 match between Australia and England back in Australia a couple months ago...or should I say "a lot of months ago?" All I'm saying is that we want some fun back in the game...plus sledging. Lol :)

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Posted by Aussie on 2007-09-17 20:26:10

Re the game being boring, I came away thinking no matter how they tweak the format and jazz up the rules, when Australia turn up to play (eg - mentally as well as physically) against a lesser side, it's going to be predictable.

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Posted by JC on 2007-09-18 08:06:43

Ya got that right, JC.

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Posted by Aussie on 2007-09-18 20:39:31

MT & Andrew: Toldya, Bracken is easy meat for better batsmen.. he was just riding his luck as there was pressure applied by Brett Lee and Stuart Clark at the other end.

Pakistan decimated Bracken and with him, Australia today!! (18-Sep)... and the most expensive amongst the regular bowlers was Nathan Bracken, gifting away 8.75 runs for no wicket...

And, my man Stuart Clark stole the show in a losing cause....

Sad, the others, including the super brawn (but lacking on brains) Mr Lee failing badly...

Aussies are hurting... Zimbies and now Pakis..Acting capt Gilly changed the bowling 9 times in 10 overs.. a record in the tournament !!!!! Panic ??? No idea what to do after Hayden and Gilly depart??? What's happening guys???

Cheers
Mahesh

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Posted by Mahesh on 2007-09-19 05:15:32

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