At the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Saturday, Bangladesh succumbed to Australia by eight wickets, capping their World Cup campaign with yet another crushing defeat.
After losing the toss, Bangladesh scored 306-8, surpassing the 300-run threshold for the first time in this tournament. However, that was insufficient against a formidable batting side in the batting paradise.
Mitchell Marsh, who left for home prior to the final game due to personal matters, scored his second century of the competition to lead his team to a successful group stage finish.
With the defeat Bangladesh finished the tournament with only four points. They have won their first match in the tournament against Afghanistan and could fetch only another win when they beat Sri Lanka in their eighth match.
Despite the loss, Bangladesh have done enough to finish over Sri Lanka thanks to their superior run-rate. If Netherlands, who also have four points like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, lose their last game against India on Sunday, Bangladesh will finish on top eight and get the chance to play in the next Champions Trophy.
Taskin Ahmed gave an early hope while defending the score as he removed Travis Head for just 10. The left-handed batter dragged a length delivery and saw his team reduced to 12-1 in the third over.
But after that, it was all about Marsh. Before adding an additional 175 with Steven Smith, he added 120 with David Warner.
Marsh, batting first, was unforgiving to every bowler and easily collected boundaries. With a strike rate of above 130, he amassed 17 fours and nine sixes in his 132-ball innings. Later in the inning, he appeared to suffer from cramping in the heat, but it did not stop him from making powerful shots.
Warner, though, would be sorry to have missed the tons. The Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain caught the left-handed hitter for 53 runs at mid-on after Mustafizur Rahman’s slower delivery.
Smith played the second fiddle with Marsh yet he ended on 63 off 64 when he played the winning boundary.
Earlier in the day Bangladesh took field with three changes as Shakib al Hasan was unable to play for his injury while pacers Tanzid Tamim and Shoriful Islam were dropped. Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman were included in the eleven.
Bangladesh got off to a good start as both the openers utilised the hard new ball and fielding restriction on a placid wicket before Tanzid Hasan was dismissed for 36. He failed to negotiate a Sean Abbott delivery and was caught and bowled. Bangladesh reached 100 in the 16th over but Litton played another poor shot when he tried to whack leg-spinner Adam Zampa to be caught at long on for 36 and leaving the side on 106-2.
Bangladesh lost their next two wickets carelessly as Mahmudullah and Najmul were both run out with scores of 45 and 32, respectively. In addition, Mushfiqur Rahim pulled a short-pitched ball from Zampa, which was caught for 21 at short cover.
Towhid Hridoy was the only batter to reach fifty despite the other batsmen throwing wickets after being set, but his dismissal, caught at long on off a full delivery by Marcus Stoinis, summed up Bangladesh’s batting style perfectly.
Even though Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 29 runs off of 20 to help his team over 300 runs, it was never enough. That might be sufficient, though, for Bangladesh to be in the top eight.
