Pat Cummins and David Warner stole the show as Australia started their Super 8 stage campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 with a convincing 28-run victory over Bangladesh via the DLS method on Friday (June 21) in Antigua. Australia, having won all their group-stage matches, aimed to maintain their momentum despite intermittent rain delays that started with a postponed toss.

Australia’s tactical decision and early breakthrough

Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first, bringing back key bowlers Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. However, it was Mitchell Starc who made an immediate impact, dismissing Tanzid Hasan on the third ball of the match. Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has struggled throughout the tournament, was tasked with stabilizing the innings. Supported by Litton Das, Shanto helped put together a 58 runs partnership before Adam Zampa broke through, dismissing Das.

Bangladesh’s middle-order collapse

Promoting Rishad Hossain up the order backfired for Bangladesh as they found themselves in trouble. Shanto, scoring 41 out of Bangladesh’s 84 runs by the 13th over, fell to Zampa, leaving Bangladesh in a precarious position. Towhid Hridoy tried to push the score with a couple of sixes off Marcus Stoinis, but the wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

Pat Cummins’ hat-trick heroics

Cummins turned the tide decisively by dismissing Mahmudullah and Mahedi Hasan off the last two deliveries of the 18th over. Returning to bowl the final over, Cummins completed a hat-trick by dismissing Hridoy, becoming the second Australian bowler to achieve this feat in T20 World Cups. Bangladesh were restricted to a subpar total of 140 runs.

Also WATCH: Australia pacer Pat Cummins picks up a hat-trick against Bangladesh | T20 World Cup 2024

David Warner’s unbeaten knock and Australia’s victory

In response, Warner and Travis Head started Australia’s chase aggressively, scoring 59 runs in the powerplay and effectively putting the game beyond Bangladesh’s reach. A rain delay offered Bangladesh a glimmer of hope, with leg-spinner Rishad Hossain taking the wickets of Head and Mitchell Marsh during a brief wobble in Australia’s innings.

Nevertheless, Warner quickly dispelled any doubts, scoring his 28th T20I fifty and steering Australia towards the target. Despite another rain interruption, Australia were 28 runs ahead via the DLS method. The match was called off, with Warner remaining unbeaten on 53 and Glenn Maxwell on 14, securing a comfortable win for Australia.

Here’s how X reacted:

Teammates, friends, family

Everyone enjoyed that #PatCummins#AusvBan pic.twitter.com/CyloaAhi9a

— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) June 21, 2024

Pat cummins took the first hat-trick of T20 World Cup 2024 vs Bangladesh
Picture credit to #Gullycrickrt @GettyImages pic.twitter.com/p6Cfg3KNMl

— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) June 21, 2024

pat cummins becomes the 7th bowler to take hat-trick in world cup history.

thala for a reason.

— Xavier Uncle (@xavierunclelite) June 21, 2024

Woke up to this: pic.twitter.com/IGl4GGkW27

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) June 21, 2024

50 up for Warner. He’s made sure Australia wins this quite easily #T20WorldCup

— Matt (@Mattys123) June 21, 2024

David Warner bowing out of international cricket with a bang. 💥#AUSvBAN | #T20WorldCup

— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) June 21, 2024

Australia defeated Bangladesh by 28 runs (DLS Method) 🏏

Scorecard: https://t.co/dyAv6VyCfI#cricket #AUSvBAN #T20WorldCup #super8 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/eL9SI0IaK6

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) June 21, 2024

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | Super Eight
Bangladesh 🆚 Australia
Australia won by 28 runs (DLS method)

Photo Credit: ICC/Getty#BCB #Cricket #BANvAUS #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/lNHyp4l9Ay

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) June 21, 2024

Australia begin their super-eight campaign with a comprehensive 28-run win (DLS method) over Bangladesh in a rain-curtailed game.

Cummins (who claimed a hat-trick) and Zampa set it up with the ball before Warner seals the deal with the bat. #AusvBan #T20WC

— Ankit Kumar Singh (@skywalkerhuss) June 21, 2024

Don Warner

— Classic Mojito (@classic_mojito) June 21, 2024

David Warner playing his last T20 World Cup and he scored a brilliant fifty from 34 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes – Well played, Davey 👏👏

The Legend of Australian cricket 🇦🇺🐐#DavidWarner #AUSvBAN #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/OPU6We995i

— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) June 21, 2024

The last time an Australian pacer took a hattrick in the T20 World Cup, India won the title.

Pat Cummins took a hattrick today. #JustSaying

— Anuj Nitin Prabhu (@APTalksCricket) June 21, 2024

Also READ: South Africa legend Graeme Smith picks his favourite team to win T20 World Cup 2024

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