With an eight-wicket thumping of Bangladesh on Thursday, Adam Zampa grabbed his first five-wicket haul to help Australia improve their T20 World Cup semi-final ambitions.
In the Super 12 match in Dubai, Zampa bowled 5-19 with his leg-spin and collaborated with the Australian speed bowlers to dismiss Bangladesh for only 73 runs.
Australia romped home in 6.2 overs to move ahead of South Africa on net run rate and boost their semi-final hopes. Skipper Aaron Finch, who hit 40, and David Warner put on 58 for the opening wicket as Australia romped home in 6.2 overs to move ahead of South Africa on net run rate and boost their semi-final hopes.
Finch was bowled by Taskin Ahmed after a 20-ball effort that included two fours and four sixes, while Warner was out for 18, but the wickets were minor blemishes in Australia’s third victory in four matches.
They are in a head-to-head battle with the Proteas for a final-four position in Group 1, which is currently headed by England, who have practically clinched one of the two semi-final spots with four victories in as many games.
After Australia’s match against the West Indies, South Africa will face England on Saturday.
“Zampa’s 5 for 19 was incredible,” Finch added. “It was a really professional performance.”
Quick with the left arm On the third ball of the innings, Mitchell Starc bowled Liton Das for nought to set the tone for Australia’s dominance.
Bangladesh fell to 10-3 and then 33-5 in 6.1 overs as Soumya Sarkar pulled a Josh Hazlewood ball into his stumps and Glenn Maxwell caught Mushfiqur Rahim lbw for one.
Captain Mahmudullah Riyad (16) and Shamim Hossain (19) put up some resistance with a 29-run stand until Zampa went through with his second wicket.
Zampa hit twice more in his third over to be on his way to a hat-trick, which he came close to completing with his final over’s first delivery, but wicketkeeper Matthew Wade lost a catch.
After that, Zampa got two more wickets to finish the innings in 15 overs, surpassing his previous T20 high of 3-14.
Bangladesh, who have now lost all five of their matches, suffered a second consecutive collapse after being bowled out for 84 against South Africa.
“The other team has outplayed us. I hope our fans continue to back us up “Mahmudullah bemoaned his situation.
“We need to improve in a number of categories, particularly our hitting. We’ve played on some of the top batting surfaces in the world.”
In their run chase, Australia came out firing, with Finch and Warner punishing the opposing bowlers with smashes all over the field.
In the fourth over, Mustafizur Rahman was dismissed for 21 runs.
Mitchell Marsh’s five-ball 16 resulted in the winning six.