AUS vs BAN, T20 World Cup 2024: Pat Cummins hat-trick helps Australia down Bangladesh in Super 8

The Australian men’s cricket team started the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 stage with a 28-run victory over Bangladesh via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda on Friday.

Riding on a hat-trick by Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa’s disciplined bowling performance, Australia restricted Bangladesh to 140/8 in 20 overs after electing to field first.

Cummins’ hat-trick was only the second by an Australian in T20 World Cup history, following Brett Lee’s feat in 2007, also against Bangladesh.

With an unbeaten 53 off 35, David Warner anchored the Australian cricket team to 100/2 in 11.2 overs. However, no further play was possible and Australia were declared winners via the DLS method.

The commanding win helped Australia take the pole position in Group 1 of the Super 8 stage with a healthy net run-rate of 2.471 ahead of India, who are second with 2.350.

Mitchell Starc gave Australia a strong start, dismissing opener Tanzid Hasan in the first over. Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa kept it tight from the other end despite Litton Das and Bangladeshi skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto putting on a 58-run stand.

Litton’s attempt to accelerate the scoring led to his dismissal by Zampa in the ninth over. Glenn Maxwell then claimed Rishad Hossain's wicket in the next over, reducing Bangladesh to 67/3 at the halfway mark.

Shanto's departure in the 13th over further hampered Bangladesh's progress. Towhid Hridoy’s battling 40 off 28 provided some late hope for Bangladesh. However, Cummins’ hat-trick in the final stages stifled the charge, ending their innings at 140/8.

Cummins, with shorter lengths, got the better of Mahmudullah and Mahedi Hasan off the last balls of the 18th over. Cummins returned to bowl the final over and got the better of Towhid Hridoy with a slower ball on the first ball.

Australia began their chase with David Warner and Travis Head flying off the blocks. The Australian openers took the score to 59/0 in the powerplay and laid down a solid platform for the run chase.

Although Bangladesh fought back with Rishad Hossain dismissing Head and skipper Mitchell Marsh in quick succession, Warner, with an unbeaten 53 off 35 balls, and Glenn Maxwell kept Australia comfortably ahead. Australia reached 100/2 in 11.2 overs before rain cut short the contest.

Australia will play Afghanistan in their second Super 8 game on Sunday and take on India on Tuesday as per Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

AUS vs BAN T20 World Cup 2024 brief scores: Bangladesh 140/8 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 41; Pat Cummins 3/29) lose to Australia (David Warner 53*; Rishad Hossain 2/23) by 28 runs via DLS method.