Sat, 09 Apr 2011 - Bangladesh vs Australia, Australia Tour of Bangladesh 2011, 1st ODI- Bulletin

Michael Clarke’s started off his full time Australian skipper career in a best possible way by bagging a man of the match award and he scored a well compiled century and, more importantly, an easy 60-run victory win against Bangladesh. Clarke who was appointed captain of Australia after Ricky Ponting relinquished the spot post world cup early exit powered his side to a big first innings total of 270 that his bowlers defended in a spirited fashion.

Never ever during the chase of a stiff target, Bangladesh batsmen threaten to give it a dash as disciplined Australian bowling effort didn’t let the to dominate. Despite the half centuries by Tamim Iqbal and skipper Shaqibul Hasan, Australia were always in the control and getting the wickets when Bangladesh had any chance of dominating them.

Bangladesh chase was dented early as it lost three wickets for just 49 runs inside 13 overs and that was followed with very slow 67-run partnership that took 17 overs as required run rate mounted after every over. With required run rate creeping up, Tamim was forced to play an aggressive bringing his downfall at his individual score of 62 runs off 89 balls.

Shaqibul, though, carried on but not at a pace that situation demanded as he crossed his slow fifty before holed out in the deep to Steven Smith. There was some late assault form Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah but it didn’t take them anywhere close to the target.

All the Australian bowlers were economical with Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings, Steven Smith and Xavier Doherty taking a wicket apiece.

After Sent into bat by Shaqibul, Australia lost an early wicket when comeback man Mashrefe Mortaza had Brad Haddin’s stumps rattled on 16 runs. Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting playing his first ODI only as a player for Australia combined together to put on quick 65 runs for the second wicket with latter looking in terrific touch hitting three classic boundaries in one Mortaza over. Both went in the matter of nine runs with Ponting getting run-out that brought Cameron White and Clarke to the strike.

While out of form White laboured to 20 off 50 balls Clarke was looked good from the world go using his feet with assuredly and picking up gaps non-chalantly. Once White was gone, Clarke alongwith Michael Hussey upped the run rate by running swiftly between the wickets and hitting bad balls away to give Australia a good platform.

Clarke who scored his 6th ODI ton on his way to 111-ball 101 including half a dozen boundaries and two sixes played sensibly in the end overs giving most of the strike to Mitchell Johnson who scored 13 ball 26 hitting two fours and as many sixes as Australia surged to 270 runs.

Bangladesh spinners, as usual, were very tight and hard to score off in the middle overs with Sohrawardi Shuvo picking up three wickets in his eight and giving away only 44 runs.