Zampa powers Australia to win over Bangladesh
Australia have secured a crucial eight-wicket win over Bangladesh that has strengthened their semi-final claims.
The bowling attack, led by man-of-the-match figures from Adam Zampa of 5-19, plowed through Bangladesh's order and the Aussies only needed 6.2 overs to reach the 73-run target.
Australia went into the match first off not just needing a win against a winless Bangladesh side that has disappointed this tournament, but a big one to improve their net run rate and, in turn, chances of progressing.
The task got off to a strong start, as Bangladesh lost their first wicket of Liton Das on the fourth ball from Mitchell Starc, before Josh Hazlewood skittled Mohammad Naim and Soumyar Sarkar in his first two overs.
The wickets fell at a rate of knots from that point, with Glen Maxwell also getting in the action with the critical scalp of Mushfiqir Rahim, as suddenly at the halfway point of their innings Bangladesh were reeling on 6/62.
It was there Zampa got to work and just about single-handedly won the match. The leg-spinner took five wickets in his four overs tearing through Bangladesh's tail end all the while conceding just 19 runs.
Needing 73, Aaron Finch (40), David Warner (18) and Mitchell Marsh (16), back in after he was left out of the loss to England, then hit 78 off just 6.2 overs to stroll to an all-important victory.
The win propels Australia back into equal second place, and more importantly improves their NPR to +1.031 to give them the advantage over South Africa in the Group 1 standings.
While it continues a dismal campaign for Bangladesh after a dire loss to Scotland, followed by England, South Africa and now Australia leaves them winless.
5/19 for Adam Zampa. There’s a time in an athlete’s career when things just go right. He is in that zone. #T20WorldCup #AUSvBAN
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) November 4, 2021
Sri Lanka finish off defending champions West Indies
West Indies' World Cup title defence has been brought to a disappointing end by Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.
Needing a commanding win to keep their slim semi-final chances alive, Kieron Pollard’s side were outclassed by a promising Sri Lankan outfit led by a dominant second-wicket partnership from Charith Asalanka (68 off 41 balls) and Pathum Nissanka (51 off 41).
The pair came together after Kusal Perera was caught and bowled on 29 by Andre Russell, and hit half-centuries as, with help from Dussan Shanaka (29 n.o), the Sri Lankans set up a strong 189-run target.
That target seemed almost immediately unattainable for the West Indies, who lost openers Chris Gayle (1) and Evin Lewis (8) to Binura Fernando in the second over of the match and never looked like recovering.
Their 169-run reply came largely off impressive innings from Shimron Hetmyer, who belted eight fours and four sixes in his 81 runs off 54 balls. While Nicholas Pooran also did his best to lift the West Indies batting at No. 3 with 46 off 34.
Wanindu Hasaranga (2-19) and Fernando (2-24) were the standouts with the ball for Sri Lanka, who contained the defending champions' chase, which fell 20 runs short after 20 overs.
It sees the West Indies bow out of the semi-final contention, while Sri Lanka end their tournament with two impressive wins out of five matches.
Sri Lanka end on a high, defending champions West Indies are out.
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 4, 2021
Only England, Australia and South Africa remain in the running for the semi-finals in Group 1.#WIvSL | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/2myESOJOYj