Australia and South Africa defeat World Twenty20 minnows
If the script didn’t go exactly to plan for Australia as their top order crumbled to the Bangladesh bowlers, there was at least no twist in the tale as Michael Clarke’s side claimed a 27-run victory over the cricketing minnows.
South Africa, by contrast, did not deviate from the plan in their 59-run win over Afghanistan, with their pacemen ripping the opposition top order to shreds and ending the fairytale for the fast-improving team by dismissing them for a meagre 80-run total.
The plucky Afghanistan side simply had no answers to the pace of Morne Morkel (4-20), Charl Lengeveldt (3-12) and Dale Steyn (2-6), with the top seven batsmen on their card dismissed for a cumulative total of 12.
It was only the rearguard action from tailenders Mirwais Ashraf (23) and Hamid Hassan (22) that saved Afghanistan from the setting the unenviable record of making the lowest score in a Twenty20 international, which still rests with Kenya for their 67 against Ireland during 2008.
Indeed, Hassan was clearly the best of the Afghanistan side in the match, spinning his way to three South African wickets, including the valuable scalp of Jacques Kallis who top-scored for the Proteas with 34 runs from 33 deliveries.
Afghanistan coach Kabir Khan, however, could still find plenty of positives from his side’s performance.
"Today, to restrict a batting line-up like South Africa to 139 is a big achievement so there are all sorts of pluses for them. The key is they need to be exposed to that pressure again and again and then they'll get used to it,” Khan said post-match.
Within the Australian camp, however, there must be some concern at the performance of their top order against the Bangladesh bowlers, and Shakib Al Hasan’s team might well have scented just a whiff of an upset victory in the air before Michael Hussey arrived at the crease with Australia struggling at 6-65.
Mr Cricket not only proved impossible to dismiss for the Bangladesh bowlers, but his 47 from 29 balls was invaluable for Australia as they set a 141-run total.
While Australia’s top order batsmen didn’t live up to expectations, Dirk Nannes continued to enhance his as he finished with figures of 4-18 after teaming with Shaun Tait to leave the Bangladeshi’s reeling at 4-15 within four overs.
While Shakib mounted some resistance with his run-a-ball 28, it was not enough to guide his side to an unlikely victory with Australia’s bowlers wrapping up the Bangladesh innings for 114 to seal their place in the Super Eight and end Bangladesh’s stay in the Caribbean.
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