On the final double header Saturday of Cricket World Cup 2023, Australia will be up against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
Australia are high on confidence with six wins in a row, including their recent win against Afghanistan, in which Glenn Maxwell single-handedly snatched the game away from Afghanistan after it lost seven wickets for 91 runs. With the win over Afghanistan, Australia extended its winning streak to six matches, following two losses at the hands of India and South Africa at the beginning of the tournament. The victory ensured that Australia became the third team after India and South Africa to find a place in the semi-finals.
Maxwell battled cramps and scored an unbeaten double century on Tuesday to power Australia to a three-wicket win, with skipper Pat Cummins supporting from the other end of the pitch. Maxwell nearly pulled off a miracle after Mujeeb Ur Rahman dropped a sitter at short fine leg after he mistimed a sweep shot. With this massive score, Glenn Maxwell found a place among the top 10 run scorers in the tournament with 397 runs in seven matches. In the game against the Netherlands, Maxwell scored the fastest ton in a World Cup game in Delhi.
For Australia, David Warner has been the highest run scorer, batting up the order with 446 runs from eight matches, which includes two centuries against Pakistan and the Netherlands and a half-century in the match against New Zealand. However, both Warner and his opening partner, Travis Head, were dismissed on small scores in their recent games against England and Afghanistan.
Adam Zampa has been another crucial player in the playing XI, as he picked up three or more wickets in five successive matches after an ordinary performance in the first two games. With 20 wickets in eight matches, Adam Zampa is second on the wicket-taking charts. Among the fast bowlers, Josh Hazlewood has been an asset for the Australian team in the first powerplay.
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are not performing to the best of their abilities. They have scalped 10 wickets apiece in eight World Cup matches.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has had a lacklustre campaign, with just two wins in eight matches. In both disciplines of the game, Bangladesh has not performed collectively and has relied a lot on individual performances. Mahmudullah has been the highest scorer for the team with 296 runs in six innings.
Bangladesh’s bowling unit has struggled with a below-par performance throughout the tournament. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shoriful Islam both picked up ten wickets in 10 matches. Throughout their campaign, Bangladesh struggled to find a balanced playing XI as the middle order has faltered to put on a show on most occasions. When the management added another batter to the playing XI, the bowling would be exposed, and vice versa.
Bangladesh is still in contention for a Champions Trophy spot, as a win with an improved net run rate could put them in seventh place above defending champions England. For Australia, this match does not hold much significance as it has already secured a semi-final spot. Australia will take on South Africa in the second semi-final on Thursday, November 16, most likely at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
Image: APMaxwell single-handedly won the game against Afghanistan after Australia lost seven wickets for a score of 91 runs in pursuit of 292 runs. Maxwell scored an unbeaten 201 runs off 128 balls, combating cramps in Mumbai’s humid weather. Earlier in the tournament, he shattered Aiden Markram’s record for the fastest century in the World Cup in the match against the Netherlands in Delhi.
Image: APMahmudullah, the highest run scorer (296 runs) for Bangladesh, has hit a century and a half-century in six innings in the ongoing edition of the tournament. Mahmudullah was moved up the batting order following his crucial knocks at number 7 and 8.
Australia could play Alex Carey in place of Josh Inglis who has scored just 131 runs in seven innings of the tournament.
Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (w), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c ), Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
Bangladesh is unlikely to make any changes to the team that won the match against Sri Lanka, looking to finish the campaign at seventh place and hence qualify for the Champions Trophy in 2025.
Tanzid Hasan, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan ( c), Mushfiqur Rahim (w), Mahmudullah, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam
The pitch in Pune’s MCA Stadium has favoured the team’s batting first, however, the team winning the toss could bowl first due to it being a day game.
Match time and where to watch
The match gets underway at 10. 30 AM. The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is being telecasted live and exclusively on the Star Sports network. Online viewers can follow the action on the Disney+Hotstar app.
(Edited by : Prakhar Sachdeo)
First Published: Nov 10, 2023 5:42 PM IST
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