Brett Lee claimed the first hat-trick in the shortest version of international cricket as Australia thrashed Bangladesh by nine wickets in a Super Eight game of the Twenty20 World Cup at Newlands on Sunday.
After restricting Bangladesh to 123 for nine, the Aussies cruised to victory with 6.1 overs to spare.
Known for their big hitting skills, the opening pair of Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist plundered the rival bowlers all over the park to put on a century partnership.
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Hayden toyed with the Bangladesh attack to notch an unbeaten 48-ball 73, including nine fours and three sixes, while Gilchrist made a 28-ball 43, studded with a boundary and four sixes, before being run out in the 12th over.
Captain Ricky Ponting (6 not out) joined Hayden to see the world champions home without any further damage.
After being put in to bat, Bangladesh were all set for a challenging total after solid performances by opening bat Tamim Iqbal (32 off 40 balls) and Aftab Ahmed (31 off 43 balls).
At 108 for three, Bangladesh's progress was throttled by speed merchant Lee, who sent back Shakib al Hasan (16), Mashrafe Mortaza (0) and Alok Kapali (0) in back-to-back deliveries to return figures of three for 27 off four overs.
After Shakib was caught behind, Mortaza stepped away to try a slog hit but was castled by a slow yorker. Kapali was trapped in front to an in-swinging delivery.
Bangladesh failed to repeat their impressive showing against South Africa yesterday and were done in by the strategic bowling and inspired fielding performance by the Aussies.
After a slow start, the Asian minnows could not step up the scoring rate in the death as they lost five wickets for 15 runs in the last four overs.
There were only nine fours and one six in the Bangladesh innings in comparison to the 10 boundaries and seven sixes struck by the Australians.
They could not even make the most of the wides and no balls bowled by Aussie bowlers, who gave away 19 extras.
Australia meet Pakistan while Bangladesh take on Sri Lanka in their next outings on Tuesday.
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