Brutal Watson breaks records, Tigers
Dhaka, April 11 (bdnews24.com) — Shane Watson broke the world record for maximum sixes in an innings on way to a mind-boggling 185 of just 96 balls as Australia crushed Bangladesh by nine wickets and seal the series.
Australia raced to 232 for 1 in just 26 overs, chasing 230 in the second match of the Zoom Ultra ODI series on Monday. It means the Tigers have lost the series with a match to go on Wednesday.
Ricky Ponting gave him good company but managed to score just 37 in a partnership of 170 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur.
Watson's incredible hitting of 15 sixes—he also smashed as many fours--saw him go past Mathew Hayden's 181 against New Zealand to record the highest individual score by an Aussie.
He also scored the most runs in boundaries in an ODI innings, pipping South African Herschelle Gibbs's 126 runs in boundaries during his 175 in Johannesburg in 2006.
Xavier Marshall's 2008 mark for most sixes fell when Watson swung his 13th over the rope.
Bangladesh would have entertained hopes of choking Australia after they got to 229 but it was not to be as Watson was in a murderous mood from the first over.
Watson took all Bangladeshi bowlers to the cleaners in his stunning batting display as he scored the sixth ODI ton off 69 balls.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan took care of Brad Haddin (8), who was beaten by the flight of the ball as he charged forward for the shot that took the inner part of the bat and went straight to Mahmudullah at midwicket.
Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim stroked a brilliant unbeaten half-century to propel Bangladesh to competitive 229 for 7 in 50 overs.
Rahim made 81 not out to give Bangladesh bowlers something to bowl at after they appeared destined to a score around 150.
Rahim batted in a dour fashion to score his eighth ODI fifty, his first against Australia before opening up to play some stunning shots towards the end.
The Tigers once again stuttered after opting to bat first on what seemed to be a decent track for batting after Tamim Iqbal played a reckless shot to be dismissed by Mitchell Johnson for 5 in the second over.
Imrul Kayes struggled to rotate the strike during his miserable stay in the middle pottering around for 41 deliveries for his 5 before playing a wild hoick to mid-wicket to Shane Watson off Johnson.
The innings though got some new lease of life as Rahim and Mahmudullah some sensible cricket to rescue Bangladesh.
The two put up 79 to rebuild the innings, giving Bangladesh a shot at a decent score.
Mahmudullah (38) was trapped leg-before by Shane Watson.
Raqibul Hasan (0) and captain Shakib Al Hasan (9) did not trouble the Aussie bowling much, clean bowled by Hastings and Smith respectively, and if not for a well compiled 56 from Shahriar Nafees, Bangladesh would have been in a hole.
Nafees offered Smith the easiest of return catches for flighted a leg break, to leave the hosts 88 for 5..
Rahim helped the Tigers cream 59 runs in the batting powerplay to boost the total.
Johnson took 3-54, while Steve Smith picked up 2-34. John Hastings and Shane Watson picked up one wicket each.
Sohrawardi Shuvo (16), looking to smash the ball over the cover in the batting powerplay, failed to connect Johnson's full delivery outside off stump, and was caught by Steven Smith at cover.
Bangladesh left out pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and brought in Rubel Hossain, while Australia brought in Callum Ferguson in place of Cameron White.
SQUADS:
BANGLADESH: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Shahriar Nafees, Roqibul Hassan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah Khan, Sohrawardi Shuvo, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Abdur Razzak
AUSTRALIA: Michael Clarke (c), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting, Callum Ferguson, Michael Hussey, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty
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