Australia recorded their seventh successive victory at this World by demolishing Bangladesh by 8 wickets. The Australian top order flexed their batting muscles to reach the target easily on the back of a beautiful century by Mitchell Marsh. Bangladesh batted well in their innings but eventually scored 30-40 runs short of a challenging target. It was a rather forgettable campaign for the Tigers; it grabbed the consolation of qualifying for the 2025 Champions trophy in North America by finishing in the top 8. 

Team Lineups

Glenn Maxwell snatched a miraculous victory against Afghanistan in the last game. But the Aussie all-rounder is ruled out for the game against Bangladesh. Steve Smith came back to the Australian Eleven after recovering from illness. Mitchell Starc was rested for the game; Sean Abbott came in to replace him. 

Bangladeshi skipper Shakib Al Hasan missed the final game with a finger injury. He is one of the three changes in the Bangladesh team. Anamul Haque flew to India to replace Shakib but was surprisingly left out of the team. Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Shoriful Islam dropped from the team, beating Sri Lanka to the bench. Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, and Mustafizur Rahman returned to the playing eleven. 

Australia

1. David Warner 2. Travis Head 3. Mitchell Marsh 4. Steve Smith 5. Marnus Labuschagne 6. Josh Inglis (WK) 7. Marcus Stoinis 8. Sean Abbott 9. Pat Cummins (Cap.) 10. Adam Zampa 11. Josh Hazlewood 

Bangladesh

1. Tanzid Hasan Tamim 2. Liton Das 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto (Cap.) 4. Towhid Hridoy 5. Mahmudullah 6. Mushfiqur Rahim (WK) 7. Mehidy Hasan Miraz 8. Mahedi Hasan 9. Nasum Ahmed 10. Taskin Ahmed 11. Mustafizur Rahman 

Australian captain Pat Cummins won the coin toss and chose to bat first on a batting-friendly surface. The ground in Pune has been known to yield high-scoring games. The average first innings total over the last five games has been 305. England posted a mammoth total of 339 against the Netherlands in the last game played in this stadium. 

Fixture

Australia and Bangladesh had clashed 21 times in the ODI format before this game. Australia is clearly the dominant force in this battle, with 19 wins. Bangladesh’s solitary victory came at Cardiff back in 2005. One game ended without any result. 

Captaincy & Tactics

In a thrilling showdown against a rather weakened Bangladesh team, Australia showcased their newfound confidence in chase scenarios. The catalyst for their emphatic victory was Mitchell Marsh, who stunned the cricketing world with an unbeaten 177 at No.3, propelling his team to a resounding eight-wicket triumph over Bangladesh in Pune. Chasing a daunting total of 307, the Australians cruised to victory with 32 balls to spare, marking their second successive record World Cup chase.

Marsh’s extraordinary knock not only resulted in his highest ODI score but also marked his first century at the coveted No.3 position. His brutal display of power-hitting included 17 boundaries and nine massive sixes, leaving the Bangladesh bowling attack hapless. Steven Smith, too, played a pivotal role with an untroubled, unbeaten 63 at No.4, forging a sensational 175-run partnership with Marsh and guiding Australia to their seventh consecutive victory in the tournament.

The Bangladeshi bowlers looked ordinary and were bowling consistently in the slot. Mitchell Marsh was dispatching the balls with relative ease. Steve Smith also found his mojo back with a flurry of boundaries in his 60+ innings. The spin attack of Bangladesh looked toothless, apart from Mahedi Hasan, who bowled on a wicket-to-wicket line. Mustafizur’s lack of consistency has been a regular cause of concern for the Bangladeshi camp; he failed to impress after clawing his way back to the team.

Batting Analysis

Despite starting strongly and setting up a formidable platform, Bangladesh failed to maximize their innings. Towhid Hridoy showcased his prowess with a career-best World Cup score of 74, but the lack of substantial contributions from the rest of the batting lineup limited their total to 306 for 8. Adam Zampa continued his masterclass in the middle overs, picking up crucial wickets and elevating his World Cup tally to 22, the second-highest for any spinner in tournament history. Marnus Labuschagne’s exceptional run-out skills further emphasized his value to the Australian team.

Though Bangladesh’s net run rate remained unscathed, their chances of qualifying for the Champions Trophy now depend on the Netherlands upsetting India. Meanwhile, Marsh’s second century of the tournament proved his most significant, dispelling doubts previously cast on Australia’s top seven. The early dismissal of Travis Head paved the way for Marsh to showcase his batting prowess during the powerplay overs. His authoritative strokeplay, characterized by exquisite drives through the covers, left Bangladesh’s fielders as mere spectators. Exceptional precision and minimal errors defined his innings, with the only setback being cramps that surfaced late but didn’t hinder his momentum.

Marsh’s exceptional partnership with David Warner, who contributed a composed 53 off 61 balls, further solidified Australia’s dominance. Warner’s dismissal, though disappointing, welcomed Smith to the crease at No.4, a position he was reluctantly shifted to accommodate Head and Marsh. However, Smith swiftly found his rhythm and demonstrated his familiarity with the venue, having represented the Pune franchise in the IPL. With consistent strike rotation, controlled boundary-hitting, and innovative lap sweeps, Smith eradicated any concerns regarding the No.3-4 dynamic.

In Australia’s quest to optimize their batting lineup in the ongoing World Cup, one concern arose with Mitchell Marsh’s initial struggle to adapt to his move down to No. 3. Despite a formidable partnership between Travis Head and David Warner against New Zealand, where they amassed 175 runs in just 19.1 overs, Marsh’s contribution of 36 from 51 balls raised doubts about his fit in the new position. This was particularly evident as he faced part-time offspinner Glenn Phillips, failing to capitalize on the opportunity. Although Australia won by a narrow margin of five runs, it was clear that they needed to maximize their batting potential.

However, in their final group-stage match against Bangladesh, Marsh emphatically silenced those doubts with a powerful and intent-filled innings that served as a warning to their upcoming opponents. The team’s batting plan on paper is solid, with aggressive stroke-makers at the top, a stabilizing presence in the middle, and more power towards the end. Yet, Marsh’s numbers at No. 3 raised questions about the effectiveness of this strategy. Prior to this match, he averaged 23.35 at a strike rate of 83.84 in that position, a significant drop from his opening position, where he averaged 55.4 at a strike rate of 113.75.

Given Marsh’s relatively limited experience in different batting positions across his 87-match career, it was expected that the sample size would be small. However, his performance in this inning has significantly improved his average at No. 3 to 36 and his strike rate to 96.55. The significance of this innings cannot be understated: Marsh’s blistering knock of 177 runs off just 132 balls propelled Australia to their most successful chase in a World Cup match. His innings featured 17 fours and nine sixes, averaging more than one boundary every over. It showcased Marsh’s trademark approach: respecting the ball when it’s in-between lengths but unleashing brutal force when it’s full or short. His powerful shots down the ground and into the covers exhibited his exceptional reach and strength.

Notably, Marsh was unafraid to use his feet against spinners to manipulate the length and create scoring opportunities. He scored 92 runs off 72 balls from the Bangladesh spinners alone. Prior to this match, Marsh had a career strike rate of 77.94 against spin, compared to 109.27 against pace. Therefore, this adjustment was a crucial course correction for Australia, especially in the context of a World Cup held in India, where spin plays a significant role.

Marsh also benefited from the powerplay field restrictions and the use of two new balls, allowing him to assert his dominance early on. However, the challenges of batting in the middle overs and on slower pitches with worn-out balls may still lie ahead. Despite this, Marsh emphasized the importance of maintaining the same aggressive intent throughout the tournament, regardless of the match conditions.

Bowling Analysis

Bangladesh’s top order, spearheaded by Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, and Najmul Hossain Shanto, exhibited exceptional timing and footwork against the seamers. However, their inability to capitalize on strong starts, highlighted by Shanto’s unnecessary run-out on 45, curtailed Bangladesh’s progress. Hridoy’s impressive half-century was marred by a risky run that resulted in Mahmudullah’s run-out, orchestrated by Labuschagne’s Jonty Rhodes-esque athleticism.

Throughout the middle overs, Zampa exerted control, dismissing Litton and Mushfiqur Rahim while suffocating the opposition with his spin wizardry. Sean Abbott, making his first appearance in the World Cup, displayed excellent bowling skills during the death overs, adeptly executing slower ball bouncers and conceding a mere four runs off the bat in overs 48 and 50.

Although Marsh and Stoinis endured a challenging outing with the ball, Marsh’s magnificent century overshadowed any concerns, especially considering Maxwell’s upcoming return, which may lead to a reduced requirement for their bowling contributions in the knockout stages.

Australia’s emphatic victory against Bangladesh has cemented their status as a formidable force in the World Cup, leaving fans and pundits eagerly anticipating their semi-final encounter with South Africa. With their batting lineup firing on all cylinders and key players in exceptional form, the Australian team is destined to provide an enthralling spectacle in the upcoming matches.

As Australia prepares for the semi-finals, Glenn Maxwell’s impending return poses a selection dilemma for the team’s management after his awe-inspiring 201 not out against Afghanistan. Additionally, Labuschagne’s exceptional contributions in the field ensured Australia’s bowlers weren’t burdened with an excessively challenging target. Notably, Mitchell Starc’s rest and Josh Hazlewood’s limited overs allowed them to remain fresh for the crucial knockout stage.

Adam Zampa has turned a corner in his bowling performance at this World Cup. He remained wicketless against India and was regularly sent to the boundary line by Rahul and Kohli. He also scored a blank against South Africa. However, after the completion of World Cup league games, Adam Zampa is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament. He also applies pressure to the batting side, giving away runs at a rate of under 6.

Mitchell Marsh’s remarkable innings at No. 3 have signaled a notable strength for Australia. His explosive batting display not only addressed concerns about his effectiveness in the middle order but also demonstrated his adaptability against spin and his ability to dictate the game’s tempo. As Australia progresses further in the World Cup, Marsh’s newfound form and intent will undoubtedly be a key asset in their pursuit of glory.

Fielding Analysis

Marnus Labuschagne was the chief operator against running out Jimmy Nisham, which ultimately tilted the game towards Australia. The South African-born top-order batsman was making the difference while fielding once again. He took an easy catch at long-on to dismiss Liton Das. Then he covered a lot of ground quickly, picked the ball up, and threw the ball on one swipe towards Josh Inglish, who ran Najmul Hossain Shanto out. Next, Labuschanged showed an incredible level of athleticism to dive, pick up, and hit the stumps – sending Mahmudullah Riyad back to the pavilion. David Warner showed an incredible level of commitment to stop extra runs. 

Bangladesh was sloppy in the fielding department amid the batting onslaught carried by Mitchell Marsh. There was a lack of urgency and application in the field. They were largely spectators, apart from a couple of regulation catches that dismissed the Aussie opening pair. 

Key Performances

Najmul Hossain Shanto looked good in his innings of 45 from 56 balls with 6 well-hit boundaries. Towhid Hridoy played with confidence and poise in his innings of 79 from 74 balls. Both of the Bangladeshi openers, Tanzid Hasan and Liton Das, got off to good starts, but both got out in a cheap fashion after reaching 36. Adam Zampa stemmed the flow of runs with his wonderful spell of 10 overs that yielded 2 wickets for just 35. Sean Abbott was expensive by giving away 61 from ten overs; he also claimed a couple of scalps.

Mitchell Marsh smashed the third ODI century and second of this tournament; his unbeaten 177 runs off 132 balls made the run chase a cakewalk for the Australians. Steve Smith got back in the team, and his 63 off 64 helped Mitchell Marsh unleash his attacking self. David Warner posted another fifty in this tournament to give Australia a good start. Taskin Ahmed was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers with 1 for 61 runs. Mustafizur Rahman was the only other wicket-taker with 76 runs conceded from 9.4 overs. 

Turning Point

Bangladesh was playing well even after the untimely departure of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah were building a stand typified by aggressive batting. Mahmudullah was hitting the ball in the middle with three sixes within the first 25 deliveries that he faced. Shanto got out through a wonderful piece of fielding by Marnus Labuschange, but Bangladesh seemed not to have learned their lesson.

Towhid Hridoy played a defensive stroke that did not go far from the crease. Labuschagne came flying for it and hit the stumps on the dive. Mahmudullah, who has been the best batsman for Bangladesh in this tournament – departed after scoring only 32. Bangladesh’s innings failed to gather speed from that point on, and they ended up posting 30-40 runs short of the par target. 

Match Result

Australia comfortably beat Bangladesh by 8 wickets with 32 balls to spare to bring home their seventh successive victory at this World Cup. 

Player of the Match

Mitchell Marsh won the Man of the Match award for his epic innings of 177 runs off 132 balls. 

Brief Scorecard

Match Highlights

Match Wrap-Up

Australians had a horror start to the campaign, with two losses against India and South Africa. The five-time champion bounced back strongly. However, they finished in the third spot of the points table. They will face South Africa next Thursday at Kolkata, a repeat fixture of the dramatic 1999 World Cup semi-finals. Bangladesh only managed to win only twice, and with some senior players slowly coming towards the fag end of their careers, the near future looks quite bleak for Bangladesh cricket.

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