Comitted to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 4 Num 68 Sun. August 03, 2003  
   
Sports


BD nowhere there


Bangladesh wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud had a thumb shattered by match-winning paceman Brett Lee as world champions Australia handed out another lesson to the cricketing minnows here Saturday.

Mashud ruled out of the next two games in the three-match one-day series was struck by the world's one of the fastest bowlers as the international newcomers sank to an eight-wicket thrashing in the opening clash.

After routing Bangladesh for a mere 105 in only 34 of their allotted 50 overs, Australia smashed their winning runs in just 22.3 overs, finishing with 107 for two wickets at Bundaberg Stadium.

A sell-out crowd of 8,308 in the picturesque ground saw the home country maintain their dominance over the visitors after crushing them by an innings in each game of a two-match Test series over the past two weeks.

With Lee producing withering pace even though he claimed he was not aiming for exceptional speed, the match ended more than two and a half hours early, leaving sections of the crowd unhappy.

Some spectators, fearful of a Bangladesh batting failure, booed after Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and sent Bangladesh in.

They had hoped the home team would bat first, giving them the opportunity to see the world's top side flexing their stroke-making muscles for a full 50 overs.

Spectators' concerns were justified as speedsters Lee and Jason Gillespie teamed up to destroy the Bangladesh innings.

Lee (4-25) and Gillespie (3-23) had too much pace and guile for the inexperienced tourists, who never threatened to make a competitive score.

Lee, although well short of the 160-kilometres (99-mile) an hour pace he achieved earlier this year, was pleased with his form.

"It's a pretty good wicket, it had some bounce and carry and it was a pleasure to bowl on," he said.

"It felt like the rhythm was there and it felt like it all came together at once.

"I wasn't even trying to bowl fast, I was trying to get my action nice and high and get the ball through to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist."

Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore had high praise for the quality of Lee's bowling.

"We saw some magnificent pace bowling," he said. "It was quite exceptional."

He agreed Bangladesh faced a challenge in regrouping for the second one-day encounter here Sunday.

"If we can weather that storm (Lee's opening assault) and have a few of our batters intact, we've got a chance of posting a reasonably competitive total," he said.

Chasing a small total Saturday, the Australian batsmen cruised to victory with only big-hitting left-hander Adam Gilchrist (18) and Ponting (29) falling as the runs were knocked off at a rate of almost five an over.

Matthew Hayden finished with an unbeaten 46 (seven fours) from 58 balls.

Fast bowler Mashrafee-bin-Mortuza dismissed Gilchrist in the fifth over.

Australia were only three runs short of their target when Ponting was out after a 65-ball knock. The powerful right-hander was bowled by spinner Mohammad Rafique as he attempted a big hit to end the game.

In the Bangladesh innings, Lee and Gillespie, well supported by Andy Bichel (2-24), made good use of a lively pitch.

In a woeful batting exhibition against a quality attack, Bangladesh were given a spark of hope only by Tushar Imran, who clubbed 28 from 33 balls, with five crisp boundaries.

Picture
Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud pulls one during his unbeaten 25 against Australia in the first one-day international at Cairns yesterday. Photo: REUTERS